Nissanka leads strong Sri Lanka reply after Verreynne century boosts South Africa
Nissanka leads strong Sri Lanka reply after Verreynne century boosts South Africa
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, left, plays a side shot as South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne watches on during the second day of the second Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, right, makes a run as South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma, tries to field off the ball during the second day of the second Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne celebrates after scoring a century during the second day of the second test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne takes a bow in front of the players pavilion after scoring a century during the second day of the second test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, left, plays a side shot as South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne watches on during the second day of the second Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, left, plays a side shot as South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne watches on during the second day of the second Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, right, makes a run as South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma, tries to field off the ball during the second day of the second Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, right, makes a run as South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma, tries to field off the ball during the second day of the second Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne celebrates after scoring a century during the second day of the second test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne celebrates after scoring a century during the second day of the second test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne takes a bow in front of the players pavilion after scoring a century during the second day of the second test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
South Africa’s Kyle Verreynne takes a bow in front of the players pavilion after scoring a century during the second day of the second test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
GQEBERHA, South Africa (AP) — Opener Pathum Nissanka led Sri Lanka to 242-3 in reply to South Africa’s bonus 358 on day two Friday of the second test at St George’s Park.
Nissanka’s 89 easily shone in a steady effort by the top order to reduce the deficit to 116 runs by stumps.
Unbeaten in the middle were Angelo Mathews, on 40 after becoming the third Sri Lankan man to pass 8,000 test runs, and Kamindu Mendis, on 30.
South Africa started the day on 269-7 and Kyle Verreynne on 48. The prospect of reaching 300 looked difficult with the tail exposed and Sri Lanka brandishing the second new ball.
But Verreynne was brilliantly supported by fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Dane Paterson to get the Proteas to a competitive 358, of which an unbeaten 105 was his.
Sri Lanka was routed for 42 in its first bat last week in Durban and did well against a seaming ball in Gqeberha to not lose its first wicket until 41 was on the board.
Dimuth Karunaratne nicked Rabada behind for 20. Nissanka should have gone to Rabada, too, on 22 but he was dropped by David Bedingham.
Nissanka and Dinesha Chandimal reached tea at 103-1 but both were dismissed in the last session.
Chandimal nicked Paterson behind after 44 off 97 balls. Paterson was 1-21 off 11 overs at one stage but he tired and started over-stepping.
Nissanka used his life to reach 50 off 107 balls, his seventh test fifty behind two centuries. But he gave his wicket away on 89 off 157 when he charged at spinner Keshav Maharaj and missed.
Mendis joined Mathews, whose sixth boundary over mid-off gave him 8,000 test runs, a Sri Lanka men’s club including only Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
At the start of the day, South Africa wasn’t expected to last much longer. Especially when Maharaj, who has five test fifties, was out without scoring to the 10th ball of the day.
Rabada, who has a high score of 47, then had his bat smashed by Lahiru Kumara, but he used the replacement to hit boundaries off Kumara and Vishwa Fernando to help the Proteas get to 300.
Verreynne wasn’t rushed but when Asitha Fernando tried the short ball, he hit him to the boundary three times in the same over.
Kumara also threw short balls and Rabada swatted him twice to the fence.
Their ninth-wicket stand of 56 off 76 stopped when Rabada was bowled by Asitha Fernando’s nip-backer after three bouncers.
Rabada went for 23 off 40. Verreynne was on 81 when last man Paterson came in with a high score of 39 on the same ground in 2020.
Verreynne tried to hog the strike, not entirely successfully, and went after the bowlers. The next balls he faced went dot-6-1-6-1-6 and he had his third test century, and second in six weeks. His excitement was capped by bowing to his teammates.
He and Paterson added 33 off 17 balls for the last wicket when Paterson popped up and out.
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