South Africa wrapped up a stunning 109-run win over Sri Lanka in the second Test at St George’s Park, sealing a 2-0 series sweep. With this victory, South Africa climbed to the top of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) table. Keshav Maharaj was the hero of the final day, taking a brilliant five-wicket haul that crushed Sri Lanka’s hopes of a comeback.
Match Summary
South Africa: 358 & 317 (Temba Bavuma 66, Aiden Markram 55, Prabath Jayasuriya 5-129)
Sri Lanka: 328 & 238 (Dhananjaya de Silva 50, Keshav Maharaj 5-76)
Result: South Africa won by 109 runs
How South Africa Sealed the Victory
The final day at St George’s Park belonged to South Africa’s bowlers. Sri Lanka started the day at 202/5, with Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva looking well set. Their partnership of 83 runs had given the visitors a glimmer of hope. But South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack had other plans.
Maharaj Turns the Tide
The breakthrough came in the 7th over of the day when Keshav Maharaj dismissed Kusal Mendis. A sharp turner from Maharaj forced Mendis to push at the ball, only to see it land in the safe hands of Aiden Markram at slip. The third umpire reviewed the catch and confirmed that Markram had cleanly taken it just above the ground.
This dismissal sparked a collapse. Fourteen balls later, Kagiso Rabada removed Sri Lanka’s captain, Dhananjaya de Silva. Rabada’s delivery moved away slightly, forcing Dhananjaya to edge it behind, and Quinton de Kock made no mistake with the catch.
Sri Lanka’s Collapse
With no specialist batters left, Sri Lanka’s lower order crumbled. The remaining five wickets fell for just 19 runs in 62 balls. Here’s how it all unfolded:
- Prabath Jayasuriya (4 runs): Jayasuriya attempted an ambitious shot off a short ball from Maharaj but mistimed it straight to Temba Bavuma at extra cover.
- Vishwa Fernando (6 runs): Fernando slogged across the line against Maharaj, sending the ball sky-high. Marco Jansen took a simple catch at mid-on.
- Lahiru Kumara (1 run): Jansen returned to bowl the next over, firing in a short delivery. Kumara swung wildly and top-edged it. Ryan Rickelton tracked the ball well to complete a neat catch.
This collapse left Sri Lanka all out for 238, handing South Africa a comfortable 109-run victory.
Star Performer: Keshav Maharaj
Keshav Maharaj was the undisputed star of the final day. He claimed 5 wickets for 76 runs, marking his 10th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and his 4th at St George’s Park. His accurate and attacking spin bowling proved too good for Sri Lanka’s lower order. Maharaj’s performance on the last day was a masterclass in patience and precision, ensuring South Africa’s victory.
Key Takeaways from the Series
- South Africa’s Rise to WTC Table Top
South Africa’s 2-0 series sweep catapulted them to the top of the ICC WTC table. With only two home matches against Pakistan left in this WTC cycle, they are one win away from securing a spot in the WTC final. - Bowling Brilliance
The South African bowling unit was relentless throughout the series. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj shared the workload, with each of them playing crucial roles in dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. - Sri Lanka’s Batting Struggles
Despite a fighting performance in the first Test, Sri Lanka’s batting frailties were exposed in the second Test. The lower-order collapse on the final day proved costly. - WTC Qualification Scenarios
While South Africa controls its destiny, Sri Lanka still has a chance to qualify for the WTC final. However, they now face the uphill task of beating Australia at home next year while hoping for other results to go in their favor.
What’s Next for South Africa and Sri Lanka?
- South Africa: South Africa’s next challenge will be the home series against Pakistan. With two Tests left in this WTC cycle, a win in either the Boxing Day or New Year’s Test will guarantee them a place in the WTC final.
- Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka must regroup and focus on their home series against Australia. To stay in the race for the WTC final, they will need to win that series and rely on favorable results from other matches.
Conclusion
South Africa’s emphatic win over Sri Lanka was a statement of intent. With clinical bowling and steady batting, they now sit atop the WTC table. Keshav Maharaj’s five-wicket haul was the perfect way to wrap up the series. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will need to work on their batting depth before their crucial home series against Australia.
South Africa is now one step away from booking their place in the WTC final, while Sri Lanka faces a tougher path. Fans can look forward to more intense WTC action as the qualification race heats up.