Cricket: Sri Lanka uprooted by sheer pace

South Africa bowl out tourists for 180, reach 90 for one at stumps on opening day.

CENTURION:

South Africa had Sri Lanka firmly on the backfoot after they finished day one of the opening Test between the two teams on 90 for one, having bowled the tourists out for just 180 in their first-innings.

Captain Graeme Smith scored the 30th half-century of his career, accumulating a well-made 61 before being dismissed by Dilhara Fernando just before the close of play. He got solid support from Jacques Rudolph, who remained unbeaten on 27. Night-watchman Dale Steyn was yet to open his account, having faced only three balls.

Earlier, fast-bowler Vernon Philander proved to be the star of the show, claiming his third five-wicket haul in as many Test matches as Sri Lanka faltered against some excellent pace bowling at the SuperSport Park.

Philander finished with five for 53, while fellow fast-bowler Dale Steyn grabbed four for 18 to end the Sri Lankan innings shortly
before the scheduled tea break.

Tourists suffer batting  collapse

Sri Lanka, who were sent in on a green pitch which offered bounce and movement to the South African fast-bowlers, lost their last six wickets for 24 runs off 32 balls.

The collapse was sparked by a burst of three wickets in five balls – all confirmed by television reviews – which ended a spirited fifth-wicket stand of 65 off 79 balls between Thilan Samaraweera (36) and Angelo Mathews (38).

Philander broke the partnership when he had Samaraweera caught behind off a ball which bounced steeply. The batsman was given not out by umpire Rod Tucker but the South Africans asked for a review and hot-spot technology showed that the batsman got a faint edge to the ball.

The next ball brought the wicket of Kaushal Silva, again after the batsman was given not out by umpire Tucker. The review requested by South Africa showed that Silva gloved the ball down the leg-side to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Three balls later new batsman Thisara Perera was caught at slip off leg-spinner Imran Tahir. He was given out by umpire Steve Davis and television umpire Richard Kettleborough was again brought into action when Perera unsuccessfully sought a review.

Philander, who took five wickets in an innings in both his previous Tests against Australia last month, had Mathews caught at slip to achieve the feat again before Steyn bowled the last two batsmen, Chanaka Welegedara and Dilhara Fernando, with successive fast, straight balls.

Sri Lanka could have been in worse trouble if Samaraweera had not had a reprieve on 13 when he was caught at third slip off fast-bowler Morne Morkel, only for an umpire’s review to show that he had sent down a no-ball.

The incident happened with Sri Lanka on 91 for four in the over after Mahela Jayawardene, their most experienced batsman, had been sent back to the pavillion by Steyn for 30.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2011.