Ryan strikes a (Rickel)ton to help Proteas to a solid day one against Sri Lanka

South Africa delivered a performance of mixed fortunes on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Thursday, ending on 269 for seven at stumps. Ryan Rickelton was the star of the show for the Proteas, striking a maiden Test century.

It wasn’t an innings of fluidity, but rather one of grit and fortitude. The Proteas needed 231 deliveries to reach the three-figure mark, batting in all three sessions of the day.

Sri Lanka pulled things back late in the day, taking two wickets in the final two overs to peg South Africa back from 263 for five to 269 for seven.

The day started similarly, with Sri Lanka’s seamers on top. Quicks Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando had the new ball talking, leaving South Africa reeling on 44 for three after an hour’s play.

Captain Temba Bavuma (78 off 109) and Rickelton (101 off 250) steadied the ship with a terrific 133-run fourth-wicket partnership. Bavuma, in contrast to Rickelton, was free-flowing in his stroke-making, hitting eight fours, and one big six off left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.

Bavuma’s 23rd Test half-century was his third in succession against Sri Lanka and came in only 57 deliveries.

A short-ball ploy by Sri Lanka saw the demise of Bavuma two overs before tea. It was a soft dismissal as he feathered an attempted hook shot straight to keeper Kusal Mendis.

David Bedingham came in after and played one of the more frenetic Test innings this year for South Africa. His 19-ball six-run innings included two dropped catches, as Sri Lanka continued their short-ball ploy, which Bedingham hit straight to fielders with soft hands before he was clean-bowled attempting to heave Jayasuriya straight down the ground.

Rickelton masterclass

It was a surprise to see Rickelton stroll to the crease at No 3 after the role has been occupied by Tristan Stubbs for most of the year.

But Rickelton made full use of the chance up the order, seeing off the swinging new ball that had done for Tony de Zorzi (0) off the first ball he faced, Aiden Markram (20 off 35) and Stubbs (four off 18), playing away from his body.

“Shuks [coach Shukri Conrad] asked me in Durban if I’d like to bat at three and I jumped at the chance,” recounted Rickelton after the match.

“I bat at three a lot for the Lions [in domestic cricket]. I’ve batted at three at this ground as well.”

Rickelton left and defended well. He never looked uncomfortable at the crease, but he didn’t look like hurting the bowlers either.

It was tentative upfront for the left-hander, who hit only 11 fours in his innings.

He scored most of his runs square of the wicket, with his most authoritative stroke being a back-foot punch before he reached his half-century.

His previous career high was 42, and on Thursday Rickelton became the eighth Proteas batter this year to reach a Test century — the most since 2012.

“I’ve always believed that I could do something useful at international level,” he said.

“It was always going to be the case of whether I can do it and prove it to myself.

“It’s the relief that comes with it. There are always those doubts, they live in everyone, they definitely live in me.

“After a couple of failures here and there, I asked myself, ‘Can I do it? Am I [just] speaking a good game?’ It’s just the relief of being able to do it and do it for the team as well.”

Rickelton had a big scare on 98 when a full Vishwa Fernando delivery jagged back and hit him on the pad. He was given out, but upon review was shown to have had an inside edge.

“I didn’t think I’d hit it at all, in all honesty,” said Rickelton. “I might have gotten a little bit lucky there with some scratches on the ultra edge. I reviewed because I was on 98.”

Kyle Verreynne (48 off 84) struggled against the new ball when he came in but settled into his innings.

The wicket at St George’s Park proved to have some assistance for the seamers, especially with the new ball. Kumara, with his extra pace, was Sri Lanka’s main threat, picking up three wickets in the day, including the big one of Rickelton two overs before the end of the day. DM