South Africa battle hard to save Test

KANDY (Sri Lanka), AUG 1: Jacques Kallis hit a defiant 87 as South Africa battled to save the second Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.Des...

KANDY (Sri Lanka), AUG 1: Jacques Kallis hit a defiant 87 as South Africa battled to save the second Test against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

Despite his staunch effort, South Africa were 192 for eight at the end of the third day, just 137 ahead. Kallis hung on for 208 minutes facing 208 balls as his team mates fell to Sri Lanka’s spinners. He hit six fours and a six. The number three was eventually bowled by wily off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Kallis’ dismissal — 13 minutes before play ended for bad light — dealt a crucial blow to the Proteas’ hopes of saving the Test and the series at the Asgiriya International Stadium.

Muralitharan also removed Darryl Cullinan (6) and Mark Boucher (15) to finish with three for 65 off 30 overs.

Kallis shared a 71-run fourth-wicket partnership with Jonty Rhodes (33) and when the two were together it seemed South Africa might achieve a decent score.

But Sri Lanka, who seized the early advantage with the wickets of openers Neil McKenzie (1) and Gary Kirsten (13) before lunch, never let go and were rewarded with two more after the break.

First out in the second session was Cullinan, then captain Sanath Jayasuriya broke the Kallis-Rhodes partnership when he had Rhodes caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara to restrict South Africa to 121 for four at tea.

Sri Lanka, 260 for four overnight, lost their last six wickets for the addition of just 22 runs. Marvan Atapattu was the top scorer with 120 (291b, 371m, 15×4). With Arjuna Ranatunga who scored 54, Atapattu added 104 for the fifth wicket.

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South Africa captain Shaun Pollock, with a spell of three for 19, and Kallis, two for 18, did the damage.

SCOREBOARD :

South Africa (1st innings): 253

Sri Lanka (1st innings; overnight 260-4): M Atapattu lbw b Pollock 120, S Jayasuriya c Kallis b Hayward 28, R Arnold run out 28, M Jayewardene c Cullinan b Boje 18, K Sangakkara run out 24, A Ranatunga lbw b Hayward 54, K Dharmasena c Boucher b Pollock 3, C Vaas c Rhodes b Pollock 4, U Chandana not out 1, N Zoysa b Kallis 3, M Muralitharan b Kallis 0; Extras: (b6, lb12, nb7) 25. Total: (all out in 99.4 overs) 308
Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-109, 3-142, 4-182, 5-286, 6-296,7-300, 8-303, 9-308

Bowling: Pollock 24-5-83-3, Hayward 22-6-67-2, Kallis 11.4-4-18-2, Boje 14-2-46-1, Klusener 11-2-21-0, Adams 15-1-48-0, Cullinan 2-0-7-0.

South Africa (2nd innings): G Kirsten b Dharmasena 13, N McKenzie b Zoysa 1, J Kallis b Muralitharan 87, D Cullinan b Muralitharan 6, J Rhodes c Sangakkara b Jayasuriya 33, L Klusener c Sangakkara b Jayasuriya 4, M Boucher c Atapattu b Muralitharan 15, S Pollock c Sangakkara b Vaas 20, N Boje batting 0, P Adams batting 6; Extras: (b4, nb3) 7. Total: (for 8 wkts off 76.1 overs, 274 mins) 192
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-37, 3-50, 4-121, 5-128, 6-153, 7-186, 8-186

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Bowling: Vaas 11-5-12-1, Zoysa 5-0-17-1, Dharmasena 14-2-42-1, Muralitharan 30-7-65-3 (3nb), Chandana 5.1-0-13-0, Jayasuriya 11-1-39-2.