SA vs SL 2024/25, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Day 3, Gqeberha Match Report, December 5-9, 2024

Entrance Sri Lanka 328 (Nissanka 89, Kamindu 48, Mathews 44, Chandimal 44, Paterson 5-71, Maharaj 2-65, Jansen 2-100) South Africa 358 for 30 runs

After 88 overs of mostly hard work, and with three failed catches in the morning, things moved quickly in Paterson’s second over, when Dhananjaya de Silva was caught behind his first ball, bowled to Kusal Mendis, who left a delivery that clipped Again, on the third ball, and then Lahiru Kumara was surprisingly caught by Jansen’s outstretched left hand in the gully of the fifth.

Sri Lanka went from a reasonably comfortable 297 for 5 to 298 for 8, and South Africa were 60 runs ahead at that stage.

Jansen continued to cause problems when he hit Kusal glove first and could have removed him twice in the space of four overs, but Kusal survived. He offered his first chance with the third ball he faced, when he was unsure about leaving a ball on leg and batted it. Verreynne lunged all the way to his left, but could only reach him with the tips of his gloves. The next opportunity was much easier. Kusal got a strong outside edge at first slip but Aiden Markam, at second, lunged at David Bedingham and dropped him.

Kusal’s flirtation with the lead continued when he sent a healthy ball to the right of Tristan Stubbs in the gully of Paterson, who had replaced Jansen. But his luck ran out after that when he left Paterson’s best pitch, which swung back sharply and took away his bails. That was in the middle of the over that turned the morning towards South Africa.

Sri Lanka ate up South Africa’s total with some glorious shots, including three well-placed fours from Prabath Jayasuriya. He led Paterson through the blankets and past the gully in four successive runs and then threaded Jansen across the point to take Sri Lanka to lunch.

Paterson resumed after lunch in search of his fifth and thought he had it when he hit Jayasuriya full force on the apron and convinced Temba Bavuma to review. Tracking the ball showed that it would have hit the outside of his leg stump, so the decision not to leave the field stood. In his next over, Paterson got a regulation dismissal for one getting away late, Vishwa Fernando fished, ducked and was caught. An excited Paterson brought up the crib celebration for his newborn son.

Five balls later, Jayasuriya drifted out of his crease towards Keshav Maharaj, who bowled it and was stumped.