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Rabada, Philander skittle Sri Lanka for 110
- Updated: January 3, 2017
Innings break Sri Lanka 110 (Philander 4-27, Rabada 4-37) trail South Africa 392 (Elgar 129, de Kock 101, Kumara 6-122) by 282 runsLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The Cape Town monster was as much Sri Lanka’s own making as the character of the Newlands pitch, but the monster reared its head nevertheless on the second day of the second Test and engulfed them in a trice. South Africa had been candid about their wish for a pitch offering pace and seam, and it was duly delivered, but Sri Lanka’s disintegration to 110 all out represented a huge overstatement of the difficulties they faced.
Sri Lanka were spared the follow-on – South Africa batted again despite holding a lead of 282 – so escaping their fate on their last appearance in Cape Town five years ago. On that occasion Sri Lanka’s batsmen did have an alibi in that they were responding to South Africa’s 580 for 4. On this occasion, their batting lacked nous and determination.
The chief instigator of Sri Lanka’s rickety resistance was Kagiso Rabada with 3 for 10 in 25 balls at the start of the final session. Vernon Philander then swept aside the tail with 4 for 5 in 12 balls as South Africa found things all too easy. For Sri Lanka, it brought back memories of their batting inadequacies on their tour of England last May when they returned 91, 119 and 101 in successive innings in a chilly northern spring.
From South Africa’s perspective, at least it deflected attention away from Kyle Abbott after ESPNcricinfo revealed that he is agonising over whether to abandon his international career and take up a deal in England with Hampshire as a Kolpak player. Cricket South Africa was expected to meet Abbott’s agent on Wednesday before making a statement.
Abbott, who went into his 11th Test with 39 wickets at 21.30, was given the new ball and the wind at his back, but after tea he had a watching brief, remained wicketless and had much time to muse in the outfield about the meaning of life. For an international of his calibre to be seriously considering a county future at 29, whatever the outcome, is deeply disturbing not just for South Africa but for Test cricket.
Tea Sri Lanka 56 for 2 (Karunaratne 24*, de Silva 0*) trail South Africa 392 (Elgar …
