Tea Sri Lanka 56 for 2 (Karunaratne 24*, de Silva 0*) trail South Africa 392 (Elgar 129, de Kock 101, Kumara 6-122) by 336 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
00:52
Fernando: SL troubles at No. 3 continue
Quinton de Kock secured his third Test century as South Africa built a strong position in the second Test in Cape Town. They were dismissed in a slightly extended morning session for 392 before Sri Lanka’s top order attempted to muster stubborn resistance.
De Kock, who made 101, was one of six wickets for the unflinching young Sri Lanka quick Lahiru Kumara who proved himself in only his third Test to be a combative bowler of genuine promise.
Sri Lanka’s survived against the new ball, but such staunch beginnings did not last until tea. Kaushal Silva was bowled by Kagiso Rabada off an inside edge and then Kusal Mendis, who had met the introduction of the left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj by slog-sweeping him for six, envisaged a repeat in his next over and top-edged a simple catch to point.
South Africa were grateful for that because they had found conditions less responsive than they had hoped. The Newlands pitch seemed to be quietening a tad and, with the flags stiffening in a strong and gusty breeze, there was little swing to be had.
There was no doubt who was centre of attention in South Africa’s line-up as they reflected upon news on ESPNcricinfo that Kyle Abbott is agonising over whether to abandon his international career and take up a deal in England with Hampshire as a Kolpak player. Cricket South Africa was expected to meet Abbott’s agent on Wednesday before making a statement.
Abbott, who went into his 11th Test with 39 wickets at 21.30, was given the new ball and the wind at his back. He rasped past Silva’s outside edge without reward and Vernon Philander almost stooped for a return catch off Dimuth Karunaratne. The most thrilling moment came, though, from Temba Bavuma, who almost pulled off a repeat of his wonderful run-out in Perth, Karunaratne’s dive at the non-striker’s end just beating his pick-up and underarm flick from point.
The morning belonged largely to de Kock. He does not spend too much time on reconnaissance: life is for living, and the sooner the better. Resuming with 68 to his name, he eased Suranga Lakmal’s introductory ball of the day to the extra-cover boundary. Confident on the drive from the outset, he had his hundred around 40 minutes later, an entertaining affair which benefited from a final slice of good fortune as an inside-edge against Kumara skimmed past leg stump.
He fell later in the over, jabbing a catch to the wicketkeeper as Kumara seamed a fullish ball away from around the wicket. Dinesh Chandimal took the catch, back behind the stumps after handing his duties to Mendis on the first day because of illness. Mendis had kept well, so encouraging a rapid recovery.
Left-handed batsmen seem ever more dominant in Test cricket and they had started the year well: Dean Elgar and de Kock on the Cape; David Warner and Matt Renshaw in Sydney.
Abbott, perhaps unsurprisingly in the circumstances, fell in the second over of the day without adding to his overnight score of 16, the nightwatchman beaten by turn and bounce from the left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
Herath’s immediate presence in the attack was a reminder that Sri Lanka were a bowler down. Nuwan Pradeep’s left thigh strain had not been regarded as serious, but he reported lingering discomfort during the warm-up and did not take the field. Herath conducted a holding operation with the gentle motions of a man philosophically getting up from a sofa to pick up the TV remote.
There was an anticipation upon de Kock’s departure, at eight down, that South Africa’s thoughts might turn quickly to bowling, but they were in the mood to keep Sri Lanka in the field for a while longer.
Kumara, as strong as a bullock, returned for his third spell of the morning 20 minutes before lunch and immediately claimed Philander with a threatening delivery on an excellent off-stump line.
Lunch was delayed with South Africa nine down. Kumara did not deserve that. He roused himself for a final time to have Rabada caught off an inside edge, a seventh wicketkeeping catch leaving Kumara, in only his third Test, with figures of 6 for 122.
David Hopps is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo @davidkhopps
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo