Emphatic win breaks SA's home jinx

Final Score- South Africa*: 580/4 d - 2 / 0 in 0.0 overs RR: 6.00, Sri Lanka: 239 - 342 in 107.5 overs RR: 3.14

South Africa had to wait little more than they would have wanted to end a three-year drought of not winning a series at home but they eventually got there, defeating Sri Lanka in the third and final Test by ten wickets. The hosts needed only six wickets to claim glory on the fourth day but the Sri Lankan lower order showed lot of grit and determination to take the match into the last session.

After they squandered the 1-0 lead at Durban, South Africa came into the match hurt. And, they responded with an all-round display. First they piled on a huge score of 580 and then the bowlers did their bit by bowling out Sri Lanka twice in little more than two days.

Thilan Samarweera scored his second ton of the series to settle the issue of him not scoring runs overseas. Along with Angelo Mathews, he defied South Africa throughout the morning session, frustrating the hosts with dogged batting. A wicket-less start to the day’s play meant the South African blowers were starting to get restless.

However, the second new ball revitalized them as Vernon Philander made the break through after Lunch by trapping Angelo leg before for 63. The stand for the fifth wicket yielded 142-runs and more importantly, survived 46 overs. Dinesh Chandimal’s wicket shortly afterwards brought South Africa closer to victory but they still had Samaraweera to deal with.

With Thisara Parera, he forged another irritating 56-run partnership for the South Africans. Consequently, he reached his second successive hundred on South African soil. Imran Tahir was able to get his side the eighth wicket and thereon, the last two departed without offering much of a resistance leaving Samaraweera stranded on 115. The 342 Sri Lanka ended up with was enough to avoid an innings defeat as South Africa had to score two runs to pocket the series 2-1.The first ball from Dhammika Prasad four runs and the South Africans celebrated an eagerly awaited victory.

Summary: Day One

South African top-order pulverized a listless Sri Lankan bowling on the opening day of with Jacques Kallis and Alviro Petersen stroking fine centuries. They shared a brisk stand of 205 runs for the third wicket which helped the hosts post a significant 347 for 3.

Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and asked South Africa to bat on a surface that was expected to assist the faster bowlers on the first day. And, he was proven almost right when Dhammika Prasad removed Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla within the first hour to reduce the hosts to 55 for two.

However, that was the end of Sri Lanka’s happiness as Kallis and Peterson took charge. It was a comeback of sorts for both the men, albeit in a different way. Petersen was recalled into the national side having spent some time on the sidelines while as, Kallis bagged first pair of his career in the last Test at Durban which South Africa lost.

Despite the early wickets, Kallis came out all guns blazing, reached his fifty off just 42 deliveries. With Sri Lanka bowlers struggling for control and consistency, Kallis unleashed strokes all around the park. Peterson too cashed-in with crisp drives down the ground.

Kallis needed only 114 deliveries for his 41st Test century while as Peterson was sedate as compared to his partner, using 165 deliveries to reach three figures. When Petersen was finally dismissed for 109, he had played his part in a 205-run at more than 4 runs per over. His replacement, AB de Villiers played along side Kallis to take South Africa into a strong position with another dangerous looking partnership.

Day Two

On a day that completely belonged to batsmen, Jacques Kallis converted his overnight ton into a double and AB de Villiers joined in the fun with a sublime 160. South Africa declared at 580 for 4, and in reply, Sri Lanka batted lot of intent to reach 149 for the loss of their openers.

Resuming on 347 for 3, Kallis picked up from where he had left, stroking a flurry of boundaries to start the proceedings. However, Sri Lanka had a chance in the third over which was spilled by Mahela Jayawardene at second slip. Having got a reprieve on 171, Kallis went on to make 224.

Making full use of the good batting conditions, AB de Villiers brought up his 13th century. Thereafter, it was a fireworks show as de Villiers and Jacques Rudolph targeted the tired Sri Lankan attack. With some disdainful hitting, they scored at about nine runs per hour in the ten overs before Smith declared the innings before Tea. AB remained undefeated on 160 and Rudolph scored a confidence boosting fifty.

Contrary to South African expectations, the innings change proved to be a personnel change only as the tempo of the game more or less remained the same. Tillakaratne Dilshan played his natural game of going after the bowlers and the placid track allowed him to play his favourite on-the-up strokes.

While his opening partner, Lahiru Thirimanne was edgy and eventually perished for 23, Dilshan was looking good but paid price for being over-aggressive. His run-a-ball 78 came to an end through a brilliant outfield catch by Smith. With Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela still at the crease, Sri Lanka were still alive in the game.

Day Three

South African bowlers wrecked havoc on the third morning to skittle Sri Lanka for 239 allowing them to enforce the follow-on. Buoyed by the earlier success, the South African bowlers applied pressure second time around and were able to dismiss four for 138. Sri Lanka still needed 203 runs to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat. In all, twelve wickets fell during the day.

After Dilshan had laid a foundation for some kind of fight back, Sri Lanka were found wanting against the pace and swing of Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander. In the first over, Sangakkara was caught by Hashim Amla off Steyn reducing Sri Lanka to 149 for 3. Thilan Samarweera had no answer to a Philander beauty and once Mahela and Angelo Mathews departed cheaply, Sri Lanka were always going to struggle.

Sri Lanka lost eight wickets for 90 runs in the first innings out of which six were shared by Steyn and Philander. With the visitors falling short of the South African total by 341 runs, Smith enforced the follow-on.

In the second innings, Sri Lanka lost skipper Dilshan early, courtesy a brilliant Philander delivery and a mindless stroke. However, Thirimanne and Sangakkara kept out the bowlers for about two hours before Jacques Kallis struck. Amla showed great reflexes at short-leg to send back Thirimanne off the bowling of Kallis, who himself took two catches to dismiss the Sri Lankan big two-Sangakkara and Kumara Sangakkara. Sri Lanka ended what was a disastrous day for them at 138 for 4.