Lakmal four-for keeps South Africa to 267/6

Suranga Lakmal took four wickets and Rangana Herath chipped in with two to give Sri Lanka a slight advantage on the first day of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Monday (December 26).

Lakmal took 4 for 62 in 23 overs, while Herath had 2 for 48 in 20 overs as South Africa reached 267 for 6 at the end of a day on which it failed to capitalise on a big opening partnership between Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar and a half-century from JP Duminy.

Lakmal stopped the South African run by taking the first three wickets – of the openers and that of Hashim Amla – and later dismissed Faf du Plessis. Herath took the other two wickets, including that of Duminy, South Africa’s top-scorer on the day with 63.

At close of play, Quinton de Kock (25) and Vernon Philander (six) were at the crease.

When du Plessis won the toss and decided to bat on a grassy but slow pitch, South Africa was expected to have a good time, and Cook (59) and Elgar (45) were hardly troubled as they took the total to 92 at lunch.

But Lakmal spoilt any thoughts of a South African domination in the second session with a superb spell soon after lunch. Angelo Mathews and Nuwan Pradeep backed him up well, as only 13 runs were added in 10.2 overs for the loss of both openers.

Cook was stuck on the crease as he edged one from Lakmal that seamed away, with Dinesh Chandimal taking a good, low catch behind the stumps to end an opening stand of 104. Only one run was added in the next 29 balls before Elgar pushed at a ball angled across him to present a second catch to Chandimal.

Duminy threatened to swing the game back for South Africa, hitting the first ball he faced from Lakmal through the covers for four and then racing to 34 – with eight fours – off the first 23 balls he faced.

By contrast, Amla, who came in at No. 3, struggled to find his timing, scoring only 20 runs off 76 balls before Lakmal returned to the attack immediately after tea and had him caught behind.

Duminy, meanwhile, was unable to bat with his earlier fluency as the Sri Lankans altered their line to prevent his flow of off-side drives. He eventually lost patience and missed a sweep against Herath to be given out lbw. He sought a review but Bruce Oxenford’s decision stood. Duminy made 63 off 95 balls with ten fours.

The Sri Lankans then successfully reviewed a decision by Oxenford four overs later when Temba Bavuma went back to Herath and was originally given not out when he was struck on the pads.

Lakmal’s fourth strike came in the fourth over with the second new ball when he made the ball move sharply off the pitch to have du Plessis caught at second slip for 37.