Outcome in the balance as Sri Lanka’s Kusal and Dhananjaya take fight to Proteas

Deciding which way this engrossing second Test will go depends on whether you’re a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty type of person.

After four enthralling days of Test cricket between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Gqeberha, there is almost nothing in it.

The tourists closed the penultimate day on 205 for five, pursuing a target of 348 to ensure a famous win.

They need 143 runs with five wickets in hand to level the series at 1-1. Their last two recognised batters, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, are at the crease, well set on 39 each, on a St George’s Park pitch that has offered a magnificent contest between bat and ball.

With a new ball due in 28 overs, will the two Sri Lankans try to go on the attack on day five and slash and burn most of the deficit on their way to the target? Or will they use the ample time they have left in the match to chip away at the deficit?

Given that the ball is 52 overs old, it does feel that if the Sri Lankan pair knock off more than 100 runs before the new ball, it would get the job done.

Conversely, for a Proteas attack that stuck to its task throughout a hot fourth afternoon after they were dismissed for 317 in their second innings shortly after lunch, they will back themselves to snare the five wickets.

The morning sessions have tended to be best for bowlers throughout the Test.

South Africa resumed their second innings on day four at 191 for three, but lost seven wickets for the addition of only 126 runs. The Proteas will be hoping that the pattern holds on the fifth morning as they look to break the 83-run stand between Dhananjaya and Mendis.

No side has ever chased down more than 300 to win a Test at St George’s — the record stands at 271 by Australia in 1997. However, Sri Lanka have chased in excess of 190 to win here, the last time they were in South Africa in 2019. Mendis was the star on that occasion, so he has some positive memories to call on.

Bavuma stars

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma’s rich form continued as he top-scored in the Proteas’ second innings with 66, having resumed day four with his score on 48.

Tristan Stubbs was well set with the skipper at the start of play but some terrible calling led to his demise for 47, run out in a terrible mix-up with Bavuma.

That ended another promising innings, especially as Stubbs has the hitting ability to accelerate the score if needed.

Bavuma followed soon after, when the spin of Prabath Jayasuriya turned viciously from outside leg and appeared to hit Bavuma’s pad and bat before dislodging the bails.

Bavuma’s 66 was his third half-century of the series, in addition to a century in Durban. He is in the purplest of purple patches.

From then on the wickets tumbled regularly as Jayasuriya returned figures of five for 129. He added the scalps of Marco Jansen (eight off 11 balls) and David Bedingham (35 from 55 balls), who were both looking to score quickly after Bavuma fell.

Early wickets

Still, a lead of 347 is massive and the Proteas, despite a mediocre morning with the bat, were well set.

With a big target to chase, the tourists made a poor start, losing opener Dimuth Karunaratne (1) to a searing in-swinger from around the wicket by Kagiso Rabada.

It was the perfect message from the home team, although Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal dug in with a 37-run second-wicket stand that caused some frustration.

Nissanka (18 off 44 balls) fell to a ball he shouldn’t have, edging a wide one from first innings hero Dane Paterson into wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne’s grateful grasp.

Chandimal (29 from 57 balls) fell victim to Paterson soon after, unable to cope with a ball that nipped back off the seam to trap him leg before. Chandimal reviewed in hope rather than expectation, but technology confirmed what the naked eye knew. He was stone dead.

A 53-run fourth wicket stand between veteran Angelo Mathews and wunderkind Kamindu Mendis followed before left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj broke through.

Mathews (32 off 59 balls) bizarrely charged down the wicket to a floated delivery and was beaten by the flight and spin to be bowled.

Kamindu was Maharaj’s next victim in his next over. The elegant left-hander tried to turn the ball to leg, but was deceived by the spin and edged it into his pad where the ball spat out to the leg side.

Verreynne reacted like a cheetah stepping on a mamba as he flung himself forward to complete a remarkable catch, almost under Kamindu's spikes.

At 122 for five, and with about 20 overs in the day remaining, thoughts briefly turned to a possible Proteas win on day four.

The stubborn resistance of Dhananjaya and Kusal though, ensured that a tense denouement to this gripping contest will play out on day five. DM