South Africa close in on series victory
South Africa made inevitable progress towards the victory in Cape Town that would bring them a Test series win against a Sri Lanka side whose batting naivety has become more apparent as the series progresses
South Africa made inevitable progress towards the victory in Cape Town that would bring them a Test series win against a Sri Lanka side whose batting naivety has become more apparent as the series progresses
Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Alan Gardner
12.40pm: Okay, so it looks like we'll have to wait for confirmation on Abbott. South Africa can enjoy the moment, Sri Lanka have plenty to work on if they are going to save some face in Johannesburg. We'll be back for more than... Until the next time, thanks for your comments, and cheerio!
12.30pm: Right, presentations coming up. Sounds like Haroon Lorgat has rocked up, perhaps with impending Abbott-related news... Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews: "Disappointing, after winning the toss and having the advantage in the first session. Once again our batters have let the team down, haven't got enough runs on the board to give the bowlers a chance. We haven't concentrated for long hours, trying to hit good balls and getting nicked. [Kumara performance?] Just 19 years of age and bowling really well, taking six-for was fantastic. Credit to Rabada, the way he bowled in the second innings was brilliant. The bowlers have given us a chance but the batters haven't given the bowlers a chance, so that's what we need to change."
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis: "That's pretty much as close to the perfect game as you can play, we wanted to dominate Sri Lanka and every single opportunity the team stepped up. Obviously conditions play a role, when we go there it's tough. But we lost the toss on a green top, we would have bowled as well, but our opening batsman scored a hundred. Then our bowlers showed how tricky it would have been. Test cricket is about how disciplined your bowling attack can be, there are times when the opposition are allowed to bat well, but we kept on top of the run rate and stayed patient. [Win series with one to play?] Extremely nice, we set our challenges, to play well and win the series. Important to put in performances, would like to make it 3-0. [Rest players in Jo'burg?] Not something we've discussed, get our best team on the ground and get a 3-0 series win."
Kagiso Rabada is named Man of the Match for his ten-wicket haul: "I guess all the hard work paid off. The hours invested in gameplans and tactics, it's a good sign. I felt I was fighting for rhythm in the first innings, it kicked when I got a few wickets, so I was fortunate. Today I felt in decent rhythm. You want to get the top batters out, it says a lot about you as a bowler."
12.20pm: Poor Herath, stranded just 65 runs short of his maiden Test hundred. South Africa have no time for sentiment, wrapping up the match inside the first session of day four, a crushing margin of victory - exactly the same as their first-innings lead. Did they need to bat again? Probably not, but the Test has still finished in good time. Interestingly, Kyle Abbott has just received several handshakes and a few embraces from his team-mates. It looks like he may be heading off into the Cape Town sunset, wicketless in his final Test. South Africa will prefer to focus on the exploits of Kagiso Rabada, the coming man, who finished with 10 for 92; he signs the match ball and walks off to a warm ovation.
"It's a 2nd Inning tie! SA just won the 1st innings..." Sujith Leitan is firmly taking the positives for the tourists.
Here's KL: "Hadn't SA batted again to post that massive 507 target the attitude of SL batting could have been very different. The result could well be anything in that case, you never know. I think it did matter to shatter the confidence of the SL batsmen and boost that of their own bowlers."
N Pradeep b Philander 5 (14m 12b 1x4 0x6) SR: 41.66
"Yes, Rangana is in Late 30's :)" Very good, abhishek agrawa
"Target below 300 now," chortles Juanre_RSA, "game on"
ESPNcricinfo lists some of the players who may be most tempted to join the talent drain from South Africa to county cricket.
Faf du Plessis has called Kagiso Rabada the "perfect bowler for a captain" following the 282-run domination of Sri Lanka at Newlands
Angelo Mathews has called on his batsmen to take a cue from Dean Elgar on how to bat in seaming conditions, after Sri Lanka were blown away in the Newlands Test, losing by 282 runs
Stats highlights from the fourth day of the Cape Town Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka, which the hosts won by a mammoth margin
The heat and the one-sided encounter were downers but this Pakistan was happy that at least his team won