Karunaratne epic withstands fiery Rabada on rain hit day

Sri Lanka started off well, then crumbled fast and were in danger of being bowled out under 200 but Dimuth Karunaratne produced probably his best Test innings to-date, as he helped Sri Lanka get out of jail along with the tail, while also withstanding a fired up Kagiso Rabada.

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Acting Sri Lankan skipper Suranga Lakmal won the toss on a soggy outfield – from continuous rain in the lead up to the match – and decided to bat first with the pitch looking very much like a typical Galle surface, a slow, low turner.

The hosts got off to a promising start of 44 runs through Danushka Gunathilaka and the returning Karunaratne, which was incidentally Sri Lanka’s highest opening partnership in their last 16 Test innings. South Africa’s young fast bowling sensation Kagiso Rabada came on to  bowl as first change after the initial spells from Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, and was effective straight away as he had Gunathilaka nicking off for 26.

Dhananjaya de Silva looked out of sorts once again before left arm Chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi got rid of him with a delivery that gripped off the surface to go through his defences as Sri Lanka went into lunch at 93/2 with Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis in firm control.

Karunaratne battled on and on from the other end as he reached his 15th Test half century soon after the break, before he watched from the other end as a cluster of wickets fell to the impressive South African fast bowling  attack led by Rabada.

Dale Steyn opened the flood gates when he dismissed Kusal Mendis for 24, before Rabada sent back Angelo Mathews and Roshen Silva to the pavilion in the space of three deliveries to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 119/5.

Niroshan Dickwella survived a close LBW call off Rabada early in his innings putting on a useful 42 run partnership with Karunaratne, before he was undone by a brilliant Shamsi delivery to be caught in the slips. The heavens opened up at the fall of Dickwella as tea was taken early on the opening day, with Karunaratne unbeaten on 80* and Sri Lanka on 161/6.

Dilruwan Perera faced a scare off his first ball when he was trapped in front by Shamsi after the break, before the DRS came to his rescue. He didn’t last for too much longer though as he nicked behind off Philander and Rangana Herath fell soon after a mix up with Karunaratne. Sri Lanka were 176/8 and looking down the barrel before skipper Lakmal provided much needed support for Karunaratne to get to his three figure mark, his 8^th Test century. The duo added an invaluable 48 runs for the 9^thwicket before Lakmal fell to a snorter of a delivery from Rabada who continued to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen with his pace and bounce.

Karunaratne decided to throw his bat around with last man Lakshan Sandakan hanging around for company. It proved vital as Sri Lanka continued to stretch their first innings total which might be vital as the pitch showed signs of spin and variable bounce even as early as day one. Sandakan grew in confidence as he struck a few useful boundaries before getting a bit too ambitious to be stumped for 25, but had done more than what was expected off him being involved in a 63 run stand for the 10th wicket, remarkably the highest in the innings.

Karunaratne walked off to a standing ovation at the Galle stadium as he became only the fourth Sri Lankan batsman to carry his bat through an innings remaining unbeaten on 158*, while guiding Sri Lanka to a competitive 287 all-out.

While the impressive Rabada captured four wickets for the visitors, Shamsi bowled decently to end up with three scalps. Steyn who is returning from injury was promising at times, but managed only the scalp of Kusal Mendis at a vital stage of the game.

Herath added the icing on the cake as he dismissed Aiden Markram late in the day, as the Proteas closed the day on 04/1 facing four tough overs of spin from Herath and Dilruwan.