Ryan Rickelton made a battling century as South Africa overcame a shaky begin on the primary day of the second Check towards Sri Lanka at St George’s Park on Thursday. The left-handed Rickelton hit 101 as South Africa reached 269 for seven on the shut. Rickelton, 28, has been a peripheral determine within the South African Check group since making his debut two-and-a-half years in the past. He was enjoying in solely his eighth Check out of a doable 19 and got here into the match with a highest rating of 42.
“It is loads of reduction greater than something,” mentioned Rickelton. “I take loads of delight in my cricket and have at all times felt I might play at this degree.”
However making a big mark on the sport had proved elusive. “I have been round this group for a time frame. I have been in and I have been out in all codecs. To tick it off for myself might be an important factor.”
Having “jumped on the alternative to bat at three”, Rickelton needed to face the eighth ball of the match after Tony de Zorzi was leg earlier than wicket to Asitha Fernando with out a run on the board.
South Africa slumped to 44 for 3 towards aggressive Sri Lankan bowling earlier than Rickelton and in-form captain Temba Bavuma (78) added 133 for the fourth wicket with Bavuma dominating the scoring.
“Temba is enjoying extremely nicely in the intervening time. He was stroking it properly and it took loads of stress off me.”
Bavuma, who made 70 and 113 in South Africa’s win within the first Check, gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off Asitha Fernando when Sri Lanka opted to assault the batsmen with short-pitched bowling.
David Bedingham was dropped twice off quick balls from Fernando earlier than he was bowled by left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya for six.
Rickelton, although, was content material to duck beneath the barrage of bouncers. “The bounce was a bit inconsistent. I made a decision I wasn’t going to present it away. I used to be prepared to take some hits on the physique.”
Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne (48 not out) rebuilt the innings with a sixth-wicket stand of 77 earlier than Rickelton and Marco Jansen fell within the area of seven balls towards the second new ball shortly earlier than the shut.
Rickelton, usually a free-flowing batsman, batted patiently, reaching his fifty off 121 balls and his century off 231 deliveries.
He added just one extra run earlier than jabbing Lahiru Kumara to Pathum Nissanka at gully.
Kumara, who reached the milestone of 100 Check wickets when he bowled Aiden Markram for 20, took three for 54 as he and his fellow quick bowlers saved the batsmen beneath stress for a lot of the day.
“We bowled in good areas,” mentioned Kumara. “There was hardly any assistance on the wicket, so we needed to depend on good traces and lengths. There is a little bit of assist with the brand new ball however because the ball will get older we’ve to work laborious.”
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