Sri Lanka made early inroads with three wickets earlier than lunch because it pegged again South Africa to 82-3 on the opening day of the second take a look at on Thursday.
Lahiru Kumara took his one hundredth take a look at wicket as he bowled opener Aiden Markram for 20 and adopted that up with the dismissal of house favorite Tristan Stubbs, who was caught behind for 4 runs.
Kumara’s pair of wickets, at the price of 17 runs, got here after Tony de Zorzi had been dismissed first ball, trapped leg earlier than wicket by Asitha Fernando within the second over of the day.
Ryan Rickleton (29) and captain Temba Bavuma (27) had been unbeaten at lunch on a wicket providing help for the bowlers regardless of South Africa playing on the pitch turning flat and selecting to bat after Bavuma gained the toss.
Standard knowledge at St George’s Park is that when the wind is blowing throughout the bottom, situations shortly flip excellent for batting, however South Africa didn’t discover it straightforward within the opening session.
De Zorzi tried a assessment of the choice once more him however failed whereas Markram’s run of mediocre take a look at scores continued as he went for a booming drive to a ball that got here again in on the right-hander and performed onto his wicket. Markram has averaged 25 runs over his final 10 take a look at innings.
Stubbs, who scored a century within the first take a look at final week and would have been on the lookout for extra runs on his house area, pushed at a rising supply with wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis taking a pointy diving catch.
Each international locations are on the lookout for victory to remain on monitor for a spot in subsequent yr’s World Take a look at Championship last.