Dilruwan, Karunaratne put Sri Lanka in driving seat

Day two was all about Sri Lanka. Their bowlers led by Dilruwan Perera restricted South Africa to 126, before Dimuth Karunaratne was at it once again, going past a half century for the 2^nd time in the match.

Most of the opening day belonged to the South African bowlers led by Kagiso Rabada, before Sri Lanka clawed their way back into the match late in the day via Karunaratne’s marathon century and some lower order resistance from skipper Suranga Lakmal and Lakshan Sandakan.

Read :  Karunaratne epic withstands fiery Rabada on rain hit day

The Sri Lankans made sure to take the momentum from last evening into day two. Ranagana Herath who dismissed Aiden Markram late on day one, got into the act straightaway dismissing night-watchman Keshav Maharaj who was trapped in front.  Dilruwan Perera decided to join the party when he squared up Dean Elgar to edge one to first slip, before he got one to spin and bounce against Hashim Amla – one of South Africa’s most fluent against spin – to have him caught at short leg by Kusal Mendis.

The tag of ‘ dust bowl’ ahead of this match at the Galle International Stadium was proving to be right at this stage, as the Proteas batsmen looked all at sea against the two experienced Sri Lankan spinners. Just when they thought they had some breathing space when Herath was taken out of the attack, Lakshan Sandakan got into the act cleaning up Temba Bavuma off his second ball. Dilruwan’s marathon spell from the other end continued relentless. He added more misery to the Proteas when he got one spinning past Quinton de Kock’s outside edge, disturbing the timber, once again. South Africa were 51/6 at this time with their skipper Faf du Plesis left to watch the drama unfold from the opposite end.

Photos: Sri Lanka vs South Africa – 1st Test | Day 2

Vernon Philander seemed the ideal partner for Du Plesis as he was willing to put in application and stay patient for lose deliveries. He did survive a few close calls against Herath on the stroke of lunch – A LBW decision which wasn’t reviewed and a successful review after, he was given out -, but the duo held firm as the visitors went into lunch with no further damage at 86/6.

The break didn’t seem to bother them as they continued from where they left off, with Du Plesis taking the responsibility of being the aggressor. Philander was providing stubborn resistance though he didn’t really look for runs, which eventually did lead to his downfall when he was trapped in front by Dilruwan who ended with four wickets in the innings.

The flood gates opened once again. Du Plesis was cut in half and lost the captains’ battle when Suranga Lakmal cleaned him up in the next over with a nearly unplayable delivery, as South Africa slid to 115/8 with their leader walking back one run short of a well-deserved half century. The Sri Lankan skipper was bowling his heart out in hot and humid conditions and he soon accounted for the dismissal of Kagiso Rabada, in identical fashion to Du Plesis. Dale Steyn was the last man to fall going for a big heave across the line as Lakmal chipped in with his third wicket of the innings, to bundle South Africa out for 126 and secure a vital 161-run lead for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka got off to a brisk start with Karunaratne starting from where he left off as he put on 51 with Danushka Gunathilaka, who threw it away when he tried to take Keshav Maharaj downtown, only to be caught in the deep.

Read : Dimuth Karunaratne – The modern, classic southpaw

A cluster of wickets followed, very similar to the first innings as Karunaratne watched on. Maharaj sent back Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis in the space of 4 balls with two stunning deliveries. None of this seemed to bother the rock solid Karunaratne, who went past the 50-run mark for the second time in the match. When he was finally dismissed for the first time in the match by Kagiso Rabada for 60, it signalled memories of his weakness outside the off stump which has led to his down fall many times. Over the past 18 month he has overcome it successfully, to be one of Sri Lanka’s top Test batsmen.

Angelo Mathews and Roshen Silva who had failures in the first innings were battling it out on a tricky surface, when the umpires decided to draw stumps for day two at the picturesque Galle Stadium, with Sri Lanka 272 runs ahead and 6 wickets in hand.