By Brian Thomas.
The taste of bitter feelings of South African superiority was evident as we were welcomed on a bright and sunny morning on day 3 of the first Test at Kingsmead , a day forgotten than cherished from a Sri Lankan perspective. Securing a lead of 149 runs on day 2 and adding another 132 for 3 wickets overnight did spell the inevitable for Sri Lanka as the home team ended day 2 with a lead of 281 runs with 7 wickets in hand. If Sri Lanka could have envisaged respite on day 3, taking into consideration that the relatively new ball might do its magic on day 3 for an anticipated early break through was more in hope than reality , as South African overnight batters Tristen Stubbs and Skipper Temba Bavuma stiched a partnership of 249 runs for the 4th wicket , indicating clearly that the visitors bowling attack was mediocre on a pitch that responded with the ball coming onto the bat than the unpredictability it indicated on day 1 and day 2.
Tristan Stubbs and his Captain Temba Bavuma enjoyed the wayward , intent lacking bowling of both spin and seam as the two recorded centuries taking the Sri Lankan attack to the cleaners, big time. Tristan 122 , Bavuma following up his love for Sri Lankan bowling by standing tall in the relatively low scoring first innings essay of 191 , in which he contributed 70 , made hay in the second innings as well with a match winning mammoth individual score of 113. David Bedding, who made a quick fire 21 after the dismissal of both centurians , Tristan, with the score on 338 and Temba on 366 , having an overall lead of 515 runs, gave the much look forward to declaration with Temba Bavuma’s dismissal with the score on 366 .
In the recorders book South Africa 366 for 5 wickets declared , overall lead of 515 , target set for Sri Lanka to achieve this was 1 session on day 3 , three sessions on day 4 and 3 sessions on day 5 , which is a herculean task against the quality of South African bowling unit especially for a subcontinent team in given conditions and their limitations on South African bouncy pitches period. Asitha Fernando took 1 wicket for 54 runs , whilst Left arm seamer accounted for 2 scalps for 68 runs and Prabath Jayasuriya bowling 40 tiring overs took 2 Wickets for 132 runs. Target 516 , as scripted by me, don’t waste your money and time getting a prediction from a fortune teller or a rocket scientist because the result , subject weather to mother nature not spoiling the party is inevitable, because Sri Lanka end day 3 on 101 for 5 wickets. At the wickets is Dinesh Chandimal on 29, and Dhananjaya de Silva still to open his account.
Big question why did Sri Lanka send a night watchman in Prabath Jayasuriya against this hostile attack to lose an extra wicket ? I remember what the great Steve Waugh told me in a cricket show interview back in the day that he was never in favour of the night watchman because they add extra pressure as they are more often than not vulnerable as victims. Dimuth Karunaratne will eyeball his dismissal and realise that at the age of 36, facing this quality of seam is not easy. Pathum Lbw to Marco Jansen for 23 , Angelo Mathews caught on the crease with his feat going nowhere to be ruled LBW for 25 , and the vulnerability of Kamindu Mendis and his expansive drive for deliveries on the 4th stump line which got him back in the hutch for 10 relates the days story.
101 for 5 wickets, Sri Lanka chasing a target of 516 is an equation that Sri Lankan fans will not want to switch on their respective Television sets.
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