*Official* South Africa Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

[Migara]

Wasn't this record set recently by Chandimal or K Mendis?

Record belongs to unlikely figure of Asanka Gurusinha, the manager of SL team

 

[Bahseph]

Missed the action today because of work. Normally I'd be happy with bowling out a team for under 300 in the first innings of a Test, but if this is a spin friendly wicket we could be in trouble. Need someone to go big. Hopefully it's Hashim.

 

[TheJammyTurtle]

I sure will be sorry to see this TPC hang up his boots.

Faf is a pretty ordinary captain, isn't he? No tactical acumen at all.

A telling move was bowling Elgar with 5 specialist bowlers on the park.Not sure what he was thinking with that.

Also,how close is Shehan Jayasuriya to this test team?Looks like a good bet to open,always seems to be scoring runs and taking wickets domestically and just scored a 100 against Bangladesh A.

 

[Borges]

I suppose South Africa would need a first innings lead of seventy or so to compensate for having to bat last on this pitch.

Focus on Philander now, since it is clear by now that his primarily role in this game is as a batsman.

 

[Borges]

Dimuth Karunaratne reckons that it is still a good track to bat on, and he should know.

 

[Maximas]

If Amla can get himself in and a couple of the others get going SA can certainly build a lead, Elgar is someone who can play a similar role to Dimuth, Herath with 2 wickets already looks pretty ominous however

 

[Borges]

Right, now that this night watchman nonsense is done and dusted, let's watch Amla, who is probably the most important batsman in this scenario.

TPC now has two wickets : )

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Well Maharaj won't make the greatest night watchman thread just yet.

 

[Borges]

Hmm.. Reverse sweep is what the Saffer think tank has come up with, is it?

 

[Maximas]

Sweeping Herath is a very legitimate tactic tbh, he is lethal against the vertical bat

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Big problems for SA here, 13/3 and playing 5 bowlers.

 

[Borges]

That was pretty soft from Elgar, and Dilruwan, you watch it: already ruined a potential 10-fer.

 

[Mr Miyagi]

Rakesh Sampat: "The Story of the Asian "Giants": Go abroad, get TRASHED by even "B" teams and the return home, prepare tracks that turn 90 degrees from day one, ball one, unleash 3 spinners on the poor batsmen with 6 fielders crowding the bat and win at home and do your chest thumping act, till the next time you tour abroad." -- You do realise that statement can also be turned around 180 degrees?

SA 34/3 (13.5 ov, HM Amla 14*, T Bavuma 9*, MDK Perera 1/15) - Live | Match Commentary | ESPNCricinfo

 

[Borges]

That's the right way to go: attack the spinners; don't let them get on top.

 

[Maximas]

Sandakan will be dangerous on this track, will extract more turn than Dilruwan or Herath, has a good wrong-un too

 

[Maximas]

ohh yeah he's nicked that, huge wicket

 

[R!TTER]

SL will win this easily, probably the next one as well at SSC. Saffers don't realize how good or valuable AB was to them, somehow Faf comes up a hero more often not, even for his captaincy

 

[OverratedSanity]

SA are just so so bad against spin.

 

[Borges]

Right, let's see what this Sandakan has to offer. A lot, it would appear, though Bavuma did play his part.
This is the height of the season for left-arm chinaman.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Going to be a massive test for Qdk. Perera is going to eat him alive imo.