Steady Sri Lanka In Driver's Seat

A steady effort by Sri Lanka on the fourth day helped them get into a winning position against South Africa. With the prospect of a spinning fifth day wicket, and Murali breathing down South Africa's neck, the Proteas require 325 runs to win.

After South Africa had completed their innings and made 376 all out, the Sri Lankan's began their second innings with a handy lead. A score in excess of 300 would've been the ideal target for a South African team against Muralitharan and a spinning fifth day pitch.

Atapattu and Jayasuriya began solidly for Sri Lanka and Jayasuriya appeared to be in a dangerous mood, as he took advantage of the lose deliveries and dispatched them straight to the boundary. Atapattu was his usual circumspect self, but with the score on 62, Atapattu was dismissed for 25 as he was lbw to Lance Klusener.

Sangakkara didn't last too long out there, out for 13 off the bowling of Nicky Boje. Boje soon had Jayawardene, caught by Rudolph for just 5. Jayasuriya continued his charge and went past 50, but even he didn't last too long as he was out to Pollock for 74 and Sri Lanka were 4/140.

The wickets then kept on tumbling with no real partnership saving the Sri Lankan's. Dilshan (1) fell to Pollock, Samaraweera (19) fell to Klusener and Kaluwitharana (19) fell to Nicky Boje as the lower-middle order was all back in the dressing rooms as South Africa began to hit back.

Upul Chandana (29) and Chaminda Vaas (13) gave some much needed resistance to the flurry of wickets, but it was Nicky Boje who disimissed Chandana and then Muralitharan (2) to finish up with figures of 5/88 as Sri Lanka declared on 9/214.

South Africa needed to chase a target of 325 runs on the final day, and before the day came to a close the Proteas finished up on 0/7.


Brief Score Summary:

End of Day 4:

Sri Lanka (2nd Innings): 214 All Out (Jayasuriya 74, Chandana 29, Boje 5/88, Pollock 2/19)

Chasing a target of 325 runs to win

South Africa (2nd Innings): 0/7 (Smith 5*, Dippenaar 0*)

Posted by Sangrah