Jansen gets 11 wkts as South Africa thrash Sri Lanka in 1st test to reach 2nd spot in WTC points table

 


South Africa secured a dominant 233-run victory over Sri Lanka on Saturday, wrapping up the match midway through the afternoon session to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. While the Proteas faced some resistance from Sri Lanka’s batters in the second innings, their bowlers eventually found the right areas, dismissing the visitors for 282 and claiming the five wickets needed for the win.


Marco Jansen starred with the ball, completing his maiden 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. His impressive match figures of 11/87 underline his growing stature in the format.


Although South Africa achieved a comprehensive win, their bowlers might reflect on their inconsistency in favorable conditions, particularly after lunch. Despite Sri Lanka never being in contention to chase the daunting target of 516, lapses in focus resulted in occasional loose deliveries—something the team will need to address as they aim to refine their performance.


Dinesh Chandimal (82) provided a silver lining for Sri Lanka, partnering with captain Dhananjaya de Silva (59) for a 95-run stand during the first session during which both batters played dazzling strokes . Later, he found support from Kusal Mendis (48), with the pair adding a quick 75 runs for the seventh wicket at over four runs per over.


However, the South African bowlers eventually regained control. Gerald Coetzee and Jansen struggled with consistency at times, while Keshav Maharaj found limited assistance from the surface. Coetzee broke the partnership by dismissing Chandimal with a short delivery that resulted in a simple return catch. Coetzee’s passionate celebration reflected the relief and intensity of the moment.


Chandimal’s innings of 83 off 174 balls, spanning more than five hours, provided some much-needed resilience for Sri Lanka. Still, the lower order crumbled quickly. Vishwa Fernando, remembered for his heroic partnership with Kusal Perera at this venue in 2019, was dismissed after just five balls, edging Maharaj to Aiden Markram at slip.


Mendis, who looked promising with his 48, was caught behind off Jansen, while Asitha Fernando was bowled by Jansen to seal the innings. Jansen’s performance ranks as the second-best in a Test at Kingsmead, behind Clarrie Grimmett’s 13-wicket haul for Australia in 1936.


This win keeps South Africa in strong contention for a spot in the World Test Championship final. Beyond the result, the Proteas demonstrated remarkable resilience, recovering from 117/7 in their first innings to post 191, thanks to captain Temba Bavuma’s crucial 70. They then dismantled Sri Lanka’s first innings for just 42 in 13.5 overs, setting the tone for their emphatic victory.


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