A counter-attacking innings of 80 from Quinton de Kock helped rescue South Africa on day one of their first Test against Sri Lanka.
The Proteas, who were put in to bat in Durban, were bowled out for 235, before Sri Lanka finished the day on 49/1, trailing South Africa by 186 runs.
Hashim Amla (3), in trying to leave the ball, managed to guide the ball to second slip off the bowling of Suranga Lakmal, before Fernando bowled Aiden Markram (11) through the gate to have South Africa reeling at 17/3. Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma halted the prospect of a major collapse, putting on 71, before the captain du Plessis (35) fell edging the ball down the leg side to hand Dickwella his second dismissal.
After the break, de Kock joined Bavuma at the crease but their partnership would end in unfortunate circumstances. A drive back down the ground from de Kock was halted by Fernando’s foot, which navigated the ball towards the stumps, knocking the bails off with Bavuma stranded outside the crease. Despite the right-hander’s best efforts of getting back to his crease, extensive TV replays saw to the conclusion that he was out – a cruel blow for the batsman, who was three runs short of a half-century.
With South Africa’s bowlers left to support him, de Kock opted to display his fluent strokeplay – a couple of brazen reverse-sweeps off debutant spinner Lasith Embuldeniya were particularly eye-catching.
De Kock received some valiant support from Keshav Maharaj (29) and Dale Steyn (15), as he helped South Africa to a score of respectability. He was to be the last man to depart, top-edging one high into the air off Rajitha’s bowling, with Fernando completing an excellent day in the field with a well-taken catch.
Sri Lanka’s openers emerged to face the music against the new-ball duo of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. While runs emerged from the blade of Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne fell for a 15-ball duck, Steyn finding the outside-edge of the bat – de Kock obliging with the catch behind the stumps.
Bad light brought to a premature end to the day’s play, one that could have been a lot worse for South Africa had de Kock not obliged with a timely innings.
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