Maharaj wraps up 2-0 win to take South Africa to the top of WTC table
Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 19 runs in 62 balls in a lower collapse that undid their work from the previous day
05/12Result
2nd Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa at Gqeberha, Dec 5-9 2024
-
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
358 & 317 -
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
328 & 238 (69.1 ov)
Player of the Match
05/12Result
2nd Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa at Gqeberha, Dec 5-9 2024
-
![South Africa]( "South Africa")
358 & 317 -
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
328 & 238 (69.1 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
Day 4
Dhananjaya de Silva-Kusal Mendis stand gives Sri Lanka outside chance
Sri Lanka need another 143 runs on the final day, with five wickets in hand but a long tail to follow
Jayasuriya five-for keeps South Africa in check
South Africa's lead swelled past 300 but they lost five wickets in the morning session
Day 3
Paterson, Bavuma and Stubbs put SA in driver's seat
Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 67 runs and face a 221-run deficit, which threatens to get out of hand
Day 2
Nissanka 89 cuts down SL deficit after Verreynne 105*
Afternoon and evening sessions belonged to Sri Lanka with their top four producing best collective effort
Day 1
Rickelton's maiden ton propels SA but Asitha, Kumara ensure opening day is evenly shared
Bavuma was proactive and Verreynne stable to ensure Sri Lanka's pacers, who were effective, could not skittle the hosts
Others
Kagiso Rabada, too unplayable for his own good
He only took six wickets in the two Tests against Sri Lanka, at a 30-plus average, but don't let that fool you
Chandimal takes on No. 3 challenge 'for the future of Sri Lankan cricket'
A late-career promotion has provided a fresh challenge for Chandimal while giving a boost to new star on the block, Kamindu Mendis
At long last, Paterson savours his moment in the sun
At 35, after delivering more than 27,000 balls in first-class cricket, and waiting in line behind several fast-bowling greats, he finally has a Test-match five-for
Mathews: Sri Lanka willing to chase 'anything around or below 300'
"If we can push them back into second and third spells and make them tire a little bit, then we have a chance"
Maharaj calls for 'old-fashioned cricket' for South Africa to get job done in Gqeberha
He says South Africa "just focusing on the now and not the future" with the race to the WTC final hotting up
'It's in those little things' - Jayasuriya rues the chances that slipped away in Gqebehra
SL head coach feels batters didn't convert their scores and that their bowlers gave away too much to the SA lower-order batters
Verreynne explodes before South Africa turn on the slow burn
South Africa's quicks probed away after Verreynne raced to his first Test century at home
Jayasuriya: 'Overseas five-for something I had targeted for a long time'
Admits he had been worried about his wickets tally away from home after people questioned his ability to be effective overseas
Fun and runs aplenty courtesy no-fuss Bavuma
Few cricketers have as many subplots to deal with as Bavuma, but you would hardly know it watching the breezy innings South Africa's captain put together in Gqeberha
Test centurion Rickelton proves to himself that he belongs on international stage
He tightened his game to get the best out of himself after being promoted up the order in Gqeberha
Temba Bavuma's summer of self-fulfillment
After a decade spent enduring questions from a vocal band of doubters, South Africa's captain stepped up and let his bat speak for him
Pace riches give Sri Lanka hope on Gqeberha greentop
Despite the shellacking in Durban, Sri Lanka believe they can compete in the second Test thanks to their depth of seam resources
'You discover yourself in hard times' - Bavuma reflects on his Test journey
The South Africa captain is set to complete ten years in Test cricket and has asserted his desire to keep going
'Old dog' Paterson ready to show the world his new tricks
He's 35 and has played just five Tests, but with a renewed action and plenty of first-class wickets behind him, he is primed to have an impact on South Africa's WTC final chances
Paterson, Maphaka or Muthusamy? SA face selection conundrum amid injuries
With Mulder and Coetzee out injured, South Africa have a number of options to pick from for the must-win Test
Pathum Nissanka 2.0 - Quiet, disciplined, and just a little greedy
He has become the kind of player that can produce something special, and still be deserving of a scolding because it is widely understood that he is better than that
South Africa and Sri Lanka look to keep their WTC final hopes alive
Sri Lanka's first goal, however, will be to be more competitive than they were in Durban
