Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
South Africa’s effort on the fourth day was commendable. Theunis de Bruyn and Temba Bavuma withstood the spin onslaught from the Sri Lankans to put on a fantastic 123 run partnership, but it only delayed the inevitable.
Unfortunately, South Africa’s effort was like a lazy husband who tells his wife he will fix something broken, but does it after seven days, instead of straight away. The fight South Africa showed on the seventh day of the series was way too late.
Despite their fine effort on day four, they will not escape the wrath of my player ratings!
For Sri Lanka, though, this is a fine moment. Rangana Herath received a kiss on his hand as he left the field after taking six in the second innings. I’m jealous. I would love to kiss that man, too. He was the one to get Sri Lanka that important breakthrough, and there is no doubt that the Lankans will be dreading the day he retires.
Of course, there were other wonderful performances from the Sri Lankans, and not so great ones from South Africans, and I will go through each player in another edition of player ratings. As always, hope you enjoy and leave a comment!
Sri Lanka
Danushka Gunathilaka: I compared Danushka to Bradman when comparing Danushka to the South Africans after the carnage in the 1st Test. He is Bradman x2 in this Test. Two half centuries. Quality performance. 8.5
Dimuth Karunaratne: Deservedly man of the series. Up until South Africa’s second innings, Dimuth Karunaratne had outscored the entire South Africa team across one and three quarter Tests (356 to 323). Four 50+ scores. Completely dominated, did Dimuth. 9
Dhananjaya de Silva: Sri Lanka’s top scorer in the first innings. Set the game up nicely. Then decided to match the South Africans and get out to a spinner for a duck. 7
Kusal Mendis: “He loves me, he loves me not.” Remember that riddle? With Mendis, it’s “this sweep will go for four, this sweep will get me out.” Two starts, two disappointing ends. 5.5
Angelo Mathews: Went past 5,000 Test runs, and was the beneficiary of a lovely match situation for Sri Lanka in the second innings. For me, he still looks a shadow of the player he was a few years ago. 7
Roshen Silva: Mr. Silva was tasked with the job of putting everyone to sleep providing solidity in the middle order. With his team hundreds of runs in front, he enthralled us with a 99 ball 32. He is looking as confident as my father using a camera or smartphone. 5
Niroshan Dickwella: It’s 100 miles an hour or nothing when this bloke bats. But, very tidy behind the stumps. 5
Dilruwan Perera: I will now invent a new saying. “Smile as wide as Dilruwan Perera when he sees Dean Elgar facing up at the other end.” Another solid outing for Dilruwan, especially in the first innings. 7.5
Akila Dhananjaya: Big performance from the little man! Frustrated the life out of the South Africans with an unbeaten 43 in the first innings, then spun them into a massive web with a five-fer. 9
Suranga Lakmal: Test Cricket’s first ever specialist number 10 batsman! Bowled a mammoth two overs. Understandable. Led his team well. Keep the pressure on even with Faf du Plessis going after the bowlers in the first innings. 4
Rangana Herath: I could just hug and kiss this man. Seemingly spent more time at the crease than the entire South African line up in the first innings, and then was Sri Lanka’s go-to man when they were finally tested by South Africa’s batting. A legend. 9
South Africa:
Aiden Markram: “I’ve seen better days”, said Markram after the Test. “Those glory days of my Test career, starting off with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at home.” All jokes aside, this kid has what it takes to be successful anywhere in the world. A big learning curve. 3
Dean Elgar: As pretty as the Zimbabwe v Pakistan series. Always gives the offspinners a chance with his technique. Showed decent fight in the second dig, but an underwhelming series from one of South Africa’s key players. 4.5
Theunis de Bruyn: Ah, what a fine century. Fight and determination, coupled with good technique in a second innings masterclass. He had no right to be the one who showed the most fight out of his teammates. The rest should take a good look at themselves, I reckon. 8
Hashim Amla: Batting average falling faster than Kim Kardashian’s IQ (OK, not quite. Kim’s IQ was never high to begin with). Reached 9,000 Test runs did Hash, but I fear his Test career is very close to the end. Another tough outing. 3
Faf du Plessis: “We ran off to the airport but I was reminded by the airport staff that we still have an ODI series”, said Faf du Plessis. “We had to collect our bags again and go back.” Faf showed good touch in the first innings, as he did in the first Test, but had a lack of support. His captaincy when the opposition tail is there for the taking though is just too passive. Also, selecting one spinner was stupid, but I’m sure that wasn’t only his decision. 5.5
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| Don’t leave Sri Lanka yet, Faf… |
Temba Bavuma: Superb second innings performance that will only improve Bavuma further as a player. Excellent sporting effort. 7
Quinton de Kock: Quinton should pretend that Asian conditions is David Warner. There is no way the conditions will get the better of him! Somewhat underwhelming performance from a talented player. 5
Keshav Maharaj: Carried so much of the workload, which was plain wrong. Record-breaking nine wickets in the first innings, with 12 taken in the match. A fine effort from a fine spinner. 9
Kagiso Rabada: Tough Test for KG but has shown enough in this series that he will be a terrific bowler in all conditions. 4
Dale Steyn: The wait for 422 will continue. Not the Dale Steyn we know and love. Tough to expect that, though. 3
Lungi Ngidi: Still scratching my head about this selection. This is not to say Lungi is a bad bowler (he is a fine bowler), but surely another spinner should have played. Really good second innings bowling, though. 6
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So, there it is. A fine series victory for Sri Lanka.
In the meantime, be sure to check out 16 really funny cricket tweets that are to sure to give you a laugh, or 4 key things India need to get right to be successful in the England Tests. Or, why not catch my light-hearted Zimbabwe vs Pakistan ODI series review, or land an awesome sale below?
Thanks for reading!
