On an attritional day of old- fashioned Test cricket South Africa put themselves in a position from which it is almost inconceivable that they could lose the first Test at the Galle International Stadium and it might be possible for them to win it.
This represents a very considerable improvement on their first day’s efforts when the failures of their two best batsmen, Hashim Amla’s and AB de Villiers seemed to have left them with a mountain to climb on the second, but the Proteas are never to be underestimated. The lower order succeeded to the extent of taking the first innings total from 268 for five in 91 overs on the first day to 455 for 9 declared. Now there are not many Test sides that could do that.
That South Africa managed it owed a very considerable amount to a remarkable innings by the cultured left-hander J P Duminy. Coming in at number eight when night watchman Dale Steyn was bowled by Suranga Lakmal for three and with the score on 290 for six, Duminy batted with calm, patience, style and authority for 261 minutes and 206 balls making exactly 100 not out and hitting ten mainly exquisite boundaries.
The bowlers stuck to their task manfully. Shaminda Eranga was still unfit so Angelo Mathews’ options were pretty limited. He rang the changes as best as he could and bowled a bit more himself. Indeed it was he who trapped Philander in front with a full length in-swinger: 399 for 8 shortly before tea.
The surprise package was Morne Morkel. If you wanted to spend a day watching left-handers you could hardly get three more different ones than Duminy, de Kock and Morkel. Duminy is all ease and style. De Kock is bristling aggression. The large and slightly lumbering Morkel crouches over his little bat like a blacksmith over his anvil. But one must give Morkel his due. He stuck to his guns and helped Duminy add 66 for the ninth wicket.
Tension – if you could call it that on another rather soporific day – gradually increased as it became clear that Duminy might get a hundred if Morkel could stay with him. He almost didn’t get there, being dropped by Perera at mid-off off Herath on 83. But he did get there with a swept single off Perera. Morkel joined in the celebrations, launching an enormous heave at Perera’s next delivery and being bowled. Amla immediately declared leaving Sri Lanka 12 overs to bat.
These were successfully negotiated by Kaushal Silva and Upul Tharanga, not without alarms. Steyn was fast and bouncy, Philander tight and always threatening and Morkel generating awkward bounce. Tharanga played some fluent shots but it was Silva – compact, organised, idiosyncratic – who gave a real impression of permanence. Pressure was eased by the introduction of Imran Tahir, who served up a collection of half volleys and full tosses which both batsmen gratefully received. It was 30 for no loss at stumps.
