Image courtesy: X(Deccan chronicle)
South Africa Dominate Through Bat and Ball
South Africa’s commanding position in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead, Durban, has highlighted their all-round supremacy. Riding on spectacular centuries by Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma, the hosts piled on a mammoth lead, leaving Sri Lanka at 103 for 5 at the end of Day 3, still a staggering 413 runs adrift of an improbable victory.
Stubbs and Bavuma: A Record Partnership
The day began with South Africa firmly in control, thanks to the exploits of Stubbs and Bavuma. Their 249-run stand for the fourth wicket not only equaled the record for this venue but also epitomized dominance. Both batters showcased contrasting styles that kept the Sri Lankan bowlers at bay, despite a pitch that initially offered some assistance.
Stubbs was aggressive, driving elegantly down the ground, while Bavuma’s compact technique allowed him to work the ball square and expertly tackle the spinners with sweeps and quick footwork. The Kingsmead crowd erupted as Bavuma reached his third career century—his second as captain—after a tense wait for an umpire review confirmed he had gloved the ball before it struck his pad.
Stubbs, on the other hand, cruised to his second Test ton, surviving a dropped catch early in his innings and a subsequent lbw scare that was overturned on review. Their contributions lifted South Africa to a formidable 366 for 5 declared, setting Sri Lanka an improbable target of 516 runs.
Sri Lanka’s Response: A Top-Order Collapse
Sri Lanka’s reply got off to a disastrous start. Kagiso Rabada set the tone by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne with a sharp catch in the slips. Marco Jansen, who has already claimed nine wickets in the match, further exploited the uneven bounce to trap Angelo Mathews lbw, with the ball barely rising above knee height.
The visitors’ batting lineup looked fragile under relentless pressure from South Africa’s taller seamers, who extracted more from the surface than their Sri Lankan counterparts. The dismissals of Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis epitomized Sri Lanka’s struggles—poor shot selection and the burning of all reviews compounded their woes. Kamindu’s twin failures underscored a disappointing outing in what has been a challenging Test series.
A Test Match in South Africa’s Grasp
The final session’s drama was punctuated by a stunning reflex catch by Tony de Zorzi at short leg, removing nightwatcher Prabath Jayasuriya. With five wickets in hand and the target a distant speck on the horizon, Sri Lanka faces an almost insurmountable task to save the game.
As the fourth day looms, South Africa’s quicks, led by Rabada and Jansen, look poised to complete the demolition job and secure a critical win in the World Test Championship series. For Sri Lanka, the task isn’t just to survive but to reclaim some pride against a rampaging opposition.
