Player of the Match
Player of the Match
  • BATSMEN
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    8.6 that's his debut wicket! He gets him to come forward to a fuller delivery outside off, Tharanga can't resist the drive, gets a thick outside edge to Boucher, no need to confirm that with the umpire, set him up nicely after bowling a series of short deliveries 35/1
    23.3 how unnecessary was that? Tahir gets a wicket off his worst ball of the morning, full toss down the leg side, Dilshan got down on his knee and tried to slog it over fine leg but ended up finding Morkel a few yards in front of the rope, he could have placed that down to square leg or somewhere else 84/3
    10.2 and he's got another left-hander! Marchant is on a roll, bowled in the channel just outside the off stump and Sangakkara had no option but to play at it, poked his bat out and the thin edge flew to Boucher, credit to the bowler for that one 47/2
    29.3 the off stump is pegged back! Morkel bends the ball back in off the pitch, Jayawardene tires to work it straighter and plays down the wrong line, big gap between pad and bat and the off stump is pushed back, Jayawardene waits to see if the bowler overstepped, all well for the bowler 117/4
    108.2 would you believe it he's holed out to deep cover! The field is spread out to give him the single, makes room and de Lange pitched it fuller, scoops it straight to Prince in the deep, timed it too well and its the best bowling figures by a debutant in 2011 338/10
    44.3 he just plucked that from nowhere! de Lange can't believe what he's pulled off, he fires in a reverse swinging full toss, Mathews pushes at the ball off the toe of the bat and spoons it quickly to the bowler's right, de Lange gets his right hand out and it sticks 162/5
    81.3 against the run of play! Chandimal has himself to blame for that, Morkel bowled it as wide as he could outside off and Chandimal somehow fell for the trap, stood at the crease and reached out as far as he could, thin edge and he was gone 273/6
    89.3 I don't understand this but why didn't Samaraweera farm the strike in the last over? A shaky Perera fends off a short delivery on the body but ends up lobbing it towards Amla at backward short-leg 289/7
    106.1 And de Lange carries on with the tradition this year of debutants taking five-wicket hauls! Comes round the wicket and bangs it in short, Herath tries to club it to the on side but skies the pull, Boucher runs forward and takes it easily 335/8
    106.5 Wicket No.6 is a brute of a delivery! Too much for any batsman, let alone a tailender, rising on the body and heading towards the helmet, he takes his eyes off the ball as he tries to fend it, lobs off the shoulder of the bat and lobs to Amla at short leg 337/9
    not out
    0
    5
    6
    0
    0
    0.00
    Extras
    14 (lb 8, nb 6)
    TOTAL
    338 all out (108.2 Overs, RR: 3.12)
    Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Tharanga Paranavitana, 8.6 ov), 2-47 (Kumar Sangakkara, 10.2 ov), 3-84 (Tillakaratne Dilshan, 23.3 ov), 4-117 (Mahela Jayawardene, 29.3 ov), 5-162 (Angelo Mathews, 44.3 ov), 6-273 (Dinesh Chandimal, 81.3 ov), 7-289 (Thisara Perera, 89.3 ov), 8-335 (Rangana Herath, 106.1 ov), 9-337 (Chanaka Welegedara, 106.5 ov), 10-338 (Thilan Samaraweera, 108.2 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    DW Steyn2356302.7300
    M Morkel2136122.9004
    M de Lange23.238173.4700
    Imran Tahir32310113.1502
    JH Kallis912402.6600
  • BATSMEN
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    8.6 edged and taken. Very poor from Smith who pushes at a length ball outside off stump. The feet went nowhere. It's a big edge and a smart catch from the keeper on debut diving away to his left hand side. 27/2
    7.2 oh gone! It's an awful dismissal. A poor ball, short on leg stump, Rudolph pulls it around the around the corner but can't keep it down. A very sharp grab by the fielder at long leg, diving forward, taken down low. 22/1
    36.3 and now Sri Lanka take control. A length ball outside off stump and for once Amla's lack of foot movement costs him dear. The bat away from the body, he's beaten on the inside edge and there's a tickle through to the keeper. I think Amla was late on it. 106/5
    10.3 goodness another one goes. It's a cracker across the righter hander, Kallis is forced to play and gets a thick edge right into the gut of second slip. A simple chance easily pouched 27/3
    34.5 but the plan works. De Villiers chases a wide half volley and nicks it to second slip. It was so wide and de Villiers had to stretch so far across to reach it presenting a simple chance to the fielder 103/4
    43.1 oh dear the reverse sweep produces an edge to slip. He got down low and missed the turning ball, it comes off the back pad as he's on the ground and the ball flicks the back of the bat en route to slip. 119/7
    41.1 oh lovely cricket. Turn away from the Boucher poke and a simple catch to Dilshan in the gully. A ball on a lovely length had Boucher groping forward and the turn did him. 118/6
    not out
    29
    36
    62
    2
    2
    80.55
    43.6 ho ho! And another. Morkel goes back and gets an inside edge between his legs onto his stumps. Turn into the left hander, he was trying to play very late but the turn took the edge past his back leg and the ball is into the base of off stump 119/8
    49.3 appeal for a stumping! After getting hit for a big six, Herath comes back by beating him in flight outside off, drew him forward to defend, he tries to drag his back foot back but Chandimal is too quick for him, third umpire confirms it, Tahir has to go 145/9
    54.4 Welegedara gets five! Too good for the tailender, he was completely squared up on the off stump, tried to open the face of the bat to steer it but it took the thin edge to the keeper 168/10
    Extras
    4 (nb 3, w 1)
    TOTAL
    168 all out (54.4 Overs, RR: 3.07)
    Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Jacques Rudolph, 7.2 ov), 2-27 (Graeme Smith, 8.6 ov), 3-27 (Jacques Kallis, 10.3 ov), 4-103 (AB de Villiers, 34.5 ov), 5-106 (Hashim Amla, 36.3 ov), 6-118 (Mark Boucher, 41.1 ov), 7-119 (Ashwell Prince, 43.1 ov), 8-119 (Morne Morkel, 43.6 ov), 9-145 (Imran Tahir, 49.3 ov), 10-168 (Marchant de Lange, 54.4 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    UWMBCA Welegedara16.435253.1203
    NLTC Perera932713.0000
    TM Dilshan11000.0000
    HMRKB Herath2074942.4500
    AD Mathews201105.5010
    CRD Fernando602904.8300
  • BATSMEN
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    8.1 Morkel's deserved that! He persists with that good length outside the off stump shaping away from the left-hander, Tharanga tries to angle that past the packed slip cordon but couldn't keep it down, Prince judges it well at 4th slip falling to his left, importantly Morkel didn't overstep! 20/2
    1.3 a pumped up Steyn picks up his first wicket! Dilshan won't feel too proud of that, good length ball which rises a fraction, seams away and Dilshan follows it, doesn't get across enough and the tame edge goes straight to first slip 4/1
    67.1 but here's another one. Sangakkara tries to go over the top down the ground and gets it off the toe of the bat straight to Graeme Smith at deeper mid on 245/7
    16.4 we have a review here. Jayawardene was padding up to a delivery that came in, always risky, it landed just back of a length and hit him above the knee roll just in line with the stumps, he was given out and he reviewed it, replays showed that it was hitting the top of the stumps, only just, but the third umpire was convinced 44/3
    38.1 there's the breakthrough. A slider that Samaraweera doesn't pick, he's late on it playing back and gets an edge into his pad and onto his off stump 138/4
    39.5 that was totally unnecessary and South Africa gleefully accept this gift! It was really short and wide outside off and Mathews decided to pull this one, clear edge and very straightforward for Boucher, he was better off either upper cutting over slip or just leaving it alone 141/5
    66.5 got him now. Much better from Steyn. A teasing line just outside the off stump, Chandimal didn't really go anywhere with the feet and got a touch squared up. It was a thin edge and Boucher took it tumbling down to his right 245/6
    71.6 gone. Thisara was looking to make as many as possible while he lasted, but Steyn's nipped him out. 132 kph, in the slot just outside off, and not much sideways movement from a length short of drivable. The dismissal came about mostly due to Thisara's indiscreet driving. Again, the front foot didn't come across and he got a healthy toe-end edge as he threw his hands at it. Was looking to tonk it over point rather than drive. The ball was hurtling at pace past Kallis at second slip, but he reacted superbly to grab with both hands as he tumbled to his right. 262/8
    not out
    8
    31
    48
    0
    0
    25.80
    75.3 Steyn has five! Chanaka again backs away and looks to swipe, this time Steyn followed him and left him with no room. Chanaka still heaved in hope, but ended up forcing it off the inner half of the blade to square leg. SL are nine down. 276/9
    78.2 Morkel has a wicket, and it is a good tail-ender's wicket. Short ball, aimed at the chest and angling in. Dilhara was on survival-first mode, staying back and holding the bat in front of the body. The ball duly thudded into the limp blade and popped up to gully. 279/10
    Extras
    11 (b 5, lb 3, nb 2, w 1)
    TOTAL
    279 all out (78.2 Overs, RR: 3.56, 344 minutes)
    Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Tillakaratne Dilshan, 1.3 ov), 2-20 (Tharanga Paranavitana, 8.1 ov), 3-44 (Mahela Jayawardene, 16.4 ov), 4-138 (Thilan Samaraweera, 38.1 ov), 5-141 (Angelo Mathews, 39.5 ov), 6-245 (Dinesh Chandimal, 66.5 ov), 7-245 (Kumar Sangakkara, 67.1 ov), 8-262 (Thisara Perera, 71.6 ov), 9-276 (Chanaka Welegedara, 75.3 ov), 10-279 (Dilhara Fernando, 78.2 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    M Morkel18.244622.5000
    DW Steyn2037353.6500
    M de Lange1324513.4611
    JH Kallis1114303.9000
    Imran Tahir1616424.0001
  • BATSMEN
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    26.4 got him! Poor stroke from Rudolph. A length ball wide of off stump, absolutely no need to play whatsoever but he's chased it, drunk on emotional thoughts of a big match-winning hundred, and got a thick outside edge. A very good catch at second slip diving high to his left to take with both hands 88/2
    9.5 Smoking guns! Dilhara has blasted the captain out! What a huge breach, this. Dilhara thumped that in short of a length and got it to take off on Smith, who was hopping on the crease to ride the bounce and fend it. No luck, the ball went higher than he thought and kissed the shoulder of the bat as he leaped and jabbed. It looped low in front of Mahela at second slip. Well taken, tumbling in front. Smith has a look of resignation as he walks back. That ball had his name on it. 37/1
    33.2 what a shocker. Amla pushed down the ground and called for a single that was never there. Prince, rightly for me, refused, Amla was 3/4 down the track and had no chance to get back to beat the throw to the keeper 106/4
    29.5 Kallis sweeps and a catch pops up to short leg, the Sri Lankans are convinced, not out given, but referred. The replay shows a definite top edge onto the helmet before it loops up to the fielder. This is out...decision changed, Kallis gone for nought 97/3
    38.3 Dilhara bumps out Prince! Pure brutality. Prince walks out looking helpless and desolate. Almost a replay of the Smith dismissal. Short ball thudded down short of a length and rearing up. It jumps up extra thanks to the shoulder Dilhara put into it. Even the tall Smith couldn't climb atop Dilhara's extra bounce. The short Prince had no chance. Fends it off the back foot and it pops into first slip's hands. 116/5
    83.4 Given out lbw, AB reviews it. His first reaction suggested he knew he was in trouble as soon as he was hit on the pad. He plays back to a ball that skids on with the angle. It lands outside off and hits the pad first before hitting the bat. Hits him in front of middle and off, and thudding into the furniture. Three red lights, and AB is gone. Sri Lanka will breathe a silent sigh of relief. Good stand that, was worth 99. 232/7
    49.3 Caught on the crease now! Davies gives Bouch out and he reviews it. I think he's a goner. Flighted on middle and leg, and straightening down the line as Boucher presses forward. It wasn't a huge lunge, and the ball hit him on the shin. HawkEye says it was crashing into middle and leg. Gone! 133/6
    43
    125
    153
    7
    0
    34.40
    87.1 and another one bites the dust. Steyn's resistance is over. Just seemed to misread the lack of spin on this new ball - that can happen after batting for so long against an old one that was twirling around madly. He was playing down the wrong line as Herath slid this in, and by the time Steyn's bat came through to the left, the ball hit the pad in front of the stumps. 241/9
    86.6 Morkel's gone. Given lbw. He wanted to review it, but South Africa are out of reviews. Tossed up on off stump, he wanders across to the off side and heaves again, but the ball was too full for him to get under. It went under the bat and hit him on the back thigh as he kneeled down to slog. Hit in front of off, crashing into middle. Kettleborough got this one dead right. 241/8
    not out
    0
    0
    4
    0
    0
    -
    87.3 Superb scenes to sign off international cricket for 2011! Sri Lanka have won in South Africa at long last, and they are cock-a-hoop! Tossed up on the stumps and it goes straight through past de Lange's limp slog to the leg side. Stumps are disturbed by the ball, and then grabbed out by exuberant Sri Lankans. They join in a huddle in the middle. Swampy Marsh trots out with barely concealed glee on his face. A proud moment for each member in that team - they all played a part in this win. 241/10
    Extras
    11 (b 6, lb 1, nb 1, w 3)
    TOTAL
    241 all out (87.3 Overs, RR: 2.75)
    Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Graeme Smith, 9.5 ov), 2-88 (Jacques Rudolph, 26.4 ov), 3-97 (Jacques Kallis, 29.5 ov), 4-106 (Hashim Amla, 33.2 ov), 5-116 (Ashwell Prince, 38.3 ov), 6-133 (Mark Boucher, 49.3 ov), 7-232 (AB de Villiers, 83.4 ov), 8-241 (Morne Morkel, 86.6 ov), 9-241 (Dale Steyn, 87.1 ov), 10-241 (Marchant de Lange, 87.3 ov)
    BowlingOMRWEconWDNB
    UWMBCA Welegedara1653302.0610
    NLTC Perera1304813.6900
    CRD Fernando1332922.2321
    TM Dilshan1123513.1800
    HMRKB Herath30.377952.5900
    AD Mathews30903.0000
    TT Samaraweera10101.0000

Close of Play

  • Mon, 26 Dec - day 1 - Sri Lanka 1st innings 289/7 (TT Samaraweera 86*, 89.3 ov)
  • Tue, 27 Dec - day 2 - Sri Lanka 2nd innings 7/1 (NT Paranavitana 0*, KC Sangakkara 3*, 2.1 ov)
  • Wed, 28 Dec - day 3 - Sri Lanka 2nd innings 256/7 (NLTC Perera 6*, HMRKB Herath 5*, 70.3 ov)
  • Thu, 29 Dec - day 4 - South Africa 2nd innings 241 (87.3 ov) - end of match

Match Notes

  • Amla has chance to banish bad memories

    Hashim Amla remembers when Sri Lanka pulled off their only win on South African soil. His reputation undermined by a poor tour of Australia, he has reason to make them pay.

  • Barren, then Durban

    Sri Lanka had a mostly forgettable year on the field and off it, save for a glimmer at the end

  • 'We choked them really nicely' - Jayasuriya

    Sanath Jayasuriya believes Sri Lanka's historic win over South Africa in Durban could rival their triumph over England at the Oval 13 years ago as the country's most significant victory outside the subcontinent.

  • South Africa's batting has the yips

    They're being badly impeded by the perplexing inability of their strong line-up to fire together

  • Rudolph, Prince put on notice for decider

    Jacques Rudolph and Ashwell Prince, the two most under-pressure South Africa batsmen, have been put on notice after Alviro Petersen was retained in the squad for the deciding Test

South Africa 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st37JA RudolphGC Smith
2nd51JA RudolphHM Amla
3rd9JH KallisHM Amla
4th9AG PrinceHM Amla
5th10AG PrinceAB de Villiers
6th17MV BoucherAB de Villiers
7th99AB de VilliersDW Steyn
8th9DW SteynM Morkel
9th0Imran TahirDW Steyn
10th0Imran TahirM de Lange