Proteas edge towards World Test Championship final with convincing victory over Sri Lanka

South Africa have one foot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final after beating Sri Lanka by 109 runs in Gqeberha in the second Test match of the series following their 233-run victory in Durban a week ago.

Coming into the series, Sri Lanka needed at least one victory to keep their hopes of reaching the WTC final alive, but that door was comprehensively shut by the Proteas, who now sit at the summit of the table with 63.33%.

Australia are second with 60.71% while India, the only other team that can qualify for the final, are on 57.29%. The two teams are currently tied 1-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and an Australia series win should be enough to see South Africa through to the WTC final.

South Africa, though, have their fate in their own hands and winning one of their two matches against Pakistan over Boxing Day and New Year will ensure their place at Lord’s in June next year.

South Africa’s recent Test successes — they won their last five matches — have come off the back of different players stepping up at different times.

At the start of the final day of the second Test match against Sri Lanka today, it was left-arm finger spinner Keshav Maharaj.

The match was in the balance overnight, with Sri Lanka needing 143 runs to seal a second Test match win at the venue and the Proteas needing five wickets on the final day.

Maharaj and spearhead Kagiso Rabada — who bowled eight overs on the trot — toiled away at dismissing Kusal Mendis and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva.

The breakthrough came when Maharaj got one to grip, turn and brush the edge of Mendis, before being grasped neatly low at first slip by Aiden Markram.

Three overs later, a steaming Rabada found De Silva’s edge, shortly after he reached his half-century mark. That signalled the end of the Sri Lankan chase.

Maharaj picked up the tail-enders’ wickets to complete his 11th career five-wicket haul and help the Proteas secure the victory.

Captain’s knock

Where South Africa dominated Sri Lanka though, was in the run-scoring department, particularly with century-makers. South Africa had four across the two matches, while Sri Lanka had none.

Captain Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne each surpassed 100.

Bavuma, in particular, was impressive, scoring more than 50 in every innings he batted for a total of 327 runs — 138 more runs than any other player across the two teams — and winning the Player of the Series award.

He looked at ease at the crease, timing the ball well off the front foot and being brutal on anything short. His performances were particularly impressive given that he missed the two-match series in Bangladesh because of an elbow injury.

“What helped me was a lot of hunger and desire … to put in winning performances for the team,” said Bavuma.

“Fortunately, the opportunities were there throughout the series and I was able to make use of them.”

Bavuma has been scrutinised incessantly when the runs have dried up, and it’s taken incredible character for him to continually come back and play important knocks for the Proteas.

“My focus is always on myself and the team and what I can do from that perspective,” he said. “The longer you play, the more you accept that as much as you do well there will be people who are not so happy that you’re doing well.

“I’m not a vocal person, I believe in letting your bat do the talking, or if you’re a bowler letting the ball do the talking.”

Smart changes

Rickelton’s maiden Test century in Gqeberha was vital for South Africa to get a big first-innings total. It was his re-entry into the team — he was selected in the playing XI after all-rounder Wiaan Mulder was injured in Durban.

Similarly, Dane Paterson, who has travelled along as a reserve for South Africa’s last few tours, also got his opportunity in Gqeberha after Gerald Coetzee injured his groin in the first Test.

Paterson returned the favour of selection with a maiden career five-wicket haul in the first innings and match figures of seven wickets for 104 runs to take home the Player of the Match award.

South Africa are building a strong and competitive team under head coach Shukri Conrad.

“Guys coming from the sidelines are in good enough mental spaces to put in winning performances for the team,” said Bavuma. DM