de Silva, Kusal Mendis keep SL’s hope of win alive

A miscommunication with his Captain Temba Bavuma sees Triston Stubbs run out

Kusal Mendis plays a shot during his defiant innings of 39* 

• Second Test against South Africa heading for exciting finish

Prabath Jayasuriya took his 10th five-fer in an innings and his first abroad

An unfinished 83-run sixth wicket stand between skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis saw Sri Lanka finish the fourth day of the second cricket Test against South Africa strongly at St George’s Park, Gqeberha yesterday.

Setting a record score of 348 to chase, Sri Lanka ended on 205-5 with de Silva and Mendis both unbeaten on 39 apiece. The Test, which is vital for both sides in their run-up to the World Test Championship (WTC) final, is nicely poised going into the fifth and final day today.

The highest successful run chase at this ground is 271 by Australia against South Africa in 1997.

South Africa, who are ahead in the Test, need five wickets, while Sri Lanka need 143 runs. de Silva and Mendis are the last recognised pair of batters for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka would have been in a better position to chase down the runs had the other batters shown the kind of application de Silva and Mendis have displayed. Apart from Dimuth Karunaratne, everyone got starts but failed to carry on. Pathum Nissanka and Angelo Mathews threw away their wickets playing rash shots.

The way de Silva and Mendis have batted so far proves that the pitch is still good for batting, with the odd ball keeping low but not unplayable.

In the last Test played by Sri Lanka at this venue, it was Kusal Mendis, in the company of Oshada Fernando, who chased down a target of 197 successfully. Mendis scored an unbeaten 84 on that occasion. Sri Lanka will need him to repeat that performance if they are to win this Test and draw the series and at the same time give themselves a shot at the WTC final.

When play began on the fourth day, Sri Lanka were once again guilty of allowing South Africa’s last two wickets to add valuable runs. The trio of Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Dane Paterson added 38 runs and pushed the target close to 350. South Africa added 35 runs in quick time after lunch, setting Sri Lanka to chase a record score of 348 at this venue in a minimum of 147 overs to achieve the task.

Having gained a 30-run first innings lead, South Africa had contributors right through the order as they went past the 300-run mark for the second time in the match. Tristan Stubbs did not add much to his overnight score as he sacrificed himself in a mix-up with his skipper. Bavuma got to a 50, his fourth in successive innings, but failed to convert it into a big score as he was bowled behind his legs by Prabath Jayasuriya.

Bavuma capped off a fine series with the bat with 66 off 116 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes). Aiden Markram chipped in with 55 off 75 balls (5 fours), and as many as eight batters got into double figures. The Lankan bowlers reeled away and Jayasuriya secured his maiden five-wicket haul outside home and his 10th overall. Sri Lanka had an excellent morning, picking up seven wickets for 124. 

Rabada struck early to remove Dimuth Karunaratne for the second time in the Test. Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal got together and started to steady the innings, but with his score on 18, Nissanka chased a wide one from Paterson and departed.

Chandimal was trapped lbw by Paterson for 29, but not before he had completed 6,000 Test runs, being the third fastest Sri Lankan to get there in 154 innings after Kumar Sangakkara (116 innings) and Mahela Jayawardene (134).

Mathews and Kamindu Mendis built up a stand of 53 before Maharaj dismissed both in successive overs, Mathews for 32 and Kamindu Mendis, a fluent run a ball 35. 

At 122-5, it looked as if the Test would have a four-day finish, but de Silva and Kusal Mendis kept Sri Lanka’s hope alive.