By Brian Thomas
South Africa, no doubt, is still hopeful in winning this all-important contest , however, the Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis partnership of 83 runs still unbroken and the new ball due in 28 overs has the visitors still in the hunt if the experience pair batting on 39 runs each can bat out the first session of day 5 without let or hinderence.
Resuming day 4 on 191 runs for 3 wickets, the overnight batters Temba Bavuma and Triston Stubbs were expected to bat Sri Lanka out of the game.
They managed to stich a 109 run partnership, but complacency crept in that ended with a gift to Sri Lanka as Trston got himself run out for 47 , the welcome bonus breakthrough coming the visitors way with the score on 213.
Temba Bavuma, the South African captain and the leading run scorer in this series by a mile, played the wrong line to a Prabath Jayasuriya delivery and was comprehensively bowled much to the delight of the Sri Lankans with the total on 254.
There are no threats with the Sri Lankan bowling , however, complacency is a secret destroyer as David Bedlington batting on 35 threw his wicket , when DDS had him caught off Jayasuriya with the score on 268 , thus opening the flood gates to a great extent with Marco Jansen joining the only recognised batter Kyle Verrynine out in the middle.
Kyle, then, played a loose vertical swing with his willow against a back of a length delivery from Vishwa Fernando to be caught for 9 runs, and the South African innings took a slide on 273 for 7 wickets, with South Africa loosing 8th wicket on 279 when Jayasuriya had him caught by Asitha Fernando for 8 runs hence South Africa took lunch on 282 for 8 wickets with tail enders Kagisgo Rabada and Keshav Mahraj to bat after the break.
Rabada smashed Lahiru Kumara for two consecutive boundaries but was hit on jaw by a Lahiru Kumara short pitched delivery that had the physio’s attention into action. Sadly, Rabada shell shocked by the blow nicked the very next delivery to Kusal Mendis and South Africa score card read 9 wickets for 290.
Credit to Mahraj and swing sensation Dane Patterson took South Africa past the 300 run mark to be bowled out for 317 runs in their second essay, setting the visitors a challenge target of 348 runs if achieved at this venue would be a record.
Jayasuriya got his first 5 wickets haul on overseas conditions by conceeding 129 runs.
Vishwa Fernando 2 for 47 , Asitha Fernando 1 for 52 while Lahiru Kumara scalped 1 for 71.
348 as a target against South Africa with their quality bowling attack in the second essay, especially by a Subcontinent team, is herculean period.
The challenge looked a reality when Dimuth Karunaratne and his virus against the bowling of Rabada seemed too infectious.
The left-hander fell LBW to a Kagisgo Rabada in dipper, with Sri Lanka on 10 runs. Pathum Nissanka, who batted with such great composure for his 89 , was caught by Kyle Verrynine the glove man off first innings bowling hero Patterson for 18 with visitors on 47 runs .
Dinesh Chandimal was a victim of an umpires call when he was adjudicated Lbw for 29 runs ,Sri Lanka indicated the first signs of the target as herculean and a miracle if achieved.
Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis the latter rated as the most important scalp by the South Africans batted with ease , stiched a partnership and kept Sri Lanka in the hunt but Mathews despite his experience tried to execute an over ambitious slog sweep against Keshav Mahraj and lost his wicket for 32 hard grinded runs and Sri Lanka lost their 4th with the score on 117.
Kamindu Mendis the danger man from a South African perspective who survived a LBW decision thanks to the aid of the DRS before opening his account played exquisite strokes in compiling 34 runs before a short delivery disturbed his concentration when Patterson hit him on his helmet. In the very next over a Mahraj delivery which gripped and spun into his pads had edged onto his bat to be brilliantly caught by the fantastic gloves of Kyle Verrynine with the visitors on 122 for 5 wickets.
The body language and the delight on the faces of the South African team displayed the value and the prize they had on getting his wicket.
DDS and Kusal Mendis have given the visitors a glimmer of hope with and unbroken partnership of 83 runs with the new ball due in 28 overs and Sri Lanka could be in bussing needing 143 runs for victory, if achieved keeps their hopes alive for the Summer of 2025.
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