Cricket-Du Plessis makes 199 as S Africa take command against Sri Lanka
28/12/2020 15:51
By Nick Said
PRETORIA, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Faf du Plessis made a
career-best 199 as South Africa prospered in the first test
against Sri Lanka with a massive first-innings score of 621 and
a lead of 160 on day three on Monday.
Sri Lanka closed on 65 for two in their second innings with
Kusal Mendis (33 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (21 not out) at
the crease.
Home seamer Lungi Ngidi (2-28) picked up both wickets to
fall, bowling captain Dimuth Karunaratne (6) with a delivery
that kept low, before Kusal Mendis (0) edged to slip.
Du Plessis fell short of a major milestone with a poor
selection of shot as he attempted to lift leg-spinner Wanindu
Hasaranga (4-171) over mid-on, but instead offered a simple
catch to Karunaratne.
He faced 276 balls and hit 24 fours, a masterful display of
batting on a wicket that was not easy for batsmen with pace and
variable bounce.
Sri Lanka had toiled in the field as injuries severely
hampered their bowling attack, with seamer Kasun Rajitha
managing only 2.1 overs, fellow quick Lahiru Kumara forced off
early and Hasaranga limping along after a sliding save on the
boundary.
They had started the innings without spinner Dhananjaya de
Silva, who suffered a thigh injury while batting and has been
ruled out for two weeks.
South Africa had resumed on 317 for four, with Du Plessis
and Temba Bavuma (71) sharing a record fifth-wicket stand for
the team against Sri Lanka of 179.
It was broken in bizarre circumstances when Bavuma walked
from the field following an appeal for caught behind. He was not
given out by the umpire, and replays suggested he had missed the
ball by a good inch.
Du Plessis also put on a record seventh wicket stand against
Sri Lanka of 133 with Keshav Maharaj (73), who went to his
highest test score before he was the last batsman out.
South Africa have added fit-again fast bowler Kagiso Rabada
to their squad for the second and final test starting in
Johannesburg on Jan. 3.
(Reporting by Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)
((nick.said@thomsonreuters.com;))