Lahiru Kumara struck twice as Sri Lanka’s bowlers had the higher of a rain-hit opening day of the primary Check towards South Africa at Kingsmead on Wednesday. South Africa have been 80 for 4 when rain stopped play for the day shortly earlier than lunch. Quick bowler Kumara took wickets in successive overs to place his staff on prime — and was denied a 3rd wicket due to a no-ball. “There was lots in favour of the bowling staff and so they bowled effectively. The deliveries that obtained wickets have been all fairly first rate,” stated South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince.
“It is a expert bowling line-up and clearly they’ve performed their homework.”
Sri Lankan bowling coach Darshana Gamage stated tempo was Kumara’s largest asset.
With a historical past of hamstring accidents, he’s now getting used as a Check specialist.
“On this Check championship, we wished to have all our bowlers contemporary,” stated Gamage.
“Our largest problem is to have quicks who will win us Check matches and I can say that we’ve the nucleus now to do the job away from dwelling.”
Sri Lanka’s choice to bowl first on a well-grassed pitch paid off beneath a closely overcast sky.
Namesakes Ajitha and Vishwa Fernando dismissed each South Africa’s openers with the full on 14.
Ajitha Fernando had Aiden Markram caught at first slip and the left-armed Vishwa had the left-handed Tony de Zorzi caught at second slip in what have been digital mirror-image dismissals, with the ball swinging away from the batsmen.
Tristan Stubbs and South African captain Temba Bavuma defended doggedly, taking the full to 29 after 13 overs.
There was a flurry of scoring when Kumara got here into the assault within the 14th over, with 17 runs added off his first over — 4 leg-byes, a no-ball and three boundaries by Stubbs.
However the strongly-built Kumara discovered further bounce with the primary ball of his second over, having Stubbs caught at third slip for 16.
David Bedingham hit a boundary however was then overwhelmed for tempo by a ball which despatched his off stump flying.
Kumara celebrated a 3rd wicket when Bavuma, on 20, gloved an tried hook at Kumara’s first short-pitched supply of the innings to be caught behind by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.
However a examine by the third umpire confirmed that Kumara had over-stepped.
Bavuma, who was dropped at third slip by Dimuth Karunaratne off Vishwa Fernando when he was on one, was unbeaten on 28 when rain drove the gamers off the sphere.
The climate is anticipated to clear from Thursday and Prince stated South Africa have been in an affordable place, referring to the primary Check between Australia and India in Perth final weekend when two low first innings totals have been adopted by a powerful Indian second-innings efficiency.
“Final week’s Check in Australia was a superb instance of how when situations change, issues can change for the batting staff. When the solar got here out the pitch modified color and situations modified dramatically. We’re hoping for a little bit of sunshine tomorrow morning.”
The 2-Check sequence is essential to either side’ hopes of reaching subsequent 12 months’s World Check Championship last at Lord’s, with Sri Lanka sitting third within the desk and South Africa fifth.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
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