South Africa clinched a 233-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Kingsmead on Saturday, despite strong resistance from Sri Lanka’s batsmen. Set an imposing target of 516 runs to win, Sri Lanka managed to reach 282 before being bowled out. Left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen played a key role, taking four wickets for 73 runs and finishing the match with impressive figures of 11 for 86. This came after Sri Lanka’s disastrous first-innings total of 42, for which Jansen was also the chief architect.South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 233 runs in the first Test, boosting their World Test Championship final hopes.
In stark contrast to their first innings collapse, Sri Lanka showed resilience on the final day, with Dinesh Chandimal and captain Dhananjaya de Silva leading the resistance. The pair put together a vital 95-run partnership for the sixth wicket, frustrating the South African bowlers and keeping them in the field for much of the morning session. When Sri Lanka resumed at 101 for five, it seemed that they might make a strong push to reduce the target further. However, the breakthrough came when De Silva, who had fought hard for 59 runs, chipped a catch to midwicket off left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj.
Chandimal, who was unbeaten on 29 overnight, continued to battle and reached 83 off 174 balls, a defiant knock in challenging conditions. He became Gerald Coetzee’s first Test wicket, caught and bowled. Kusal Mendis contributed an attacking 48 before Jansen dismissed him, with wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne taking the catch behind the stumps.South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 233 runs in the first Test, boosting their World Test Championship final hopes.
Sri Lanka’s resistance was bolstered by a rare patch of favorable batting conditions, and they capitalized on it, particularly in their stand between Chandimal and De Silva. However, despite these efforts, South Africa’s bowlers, led by Jansen and the spin duo of Maharaj and Coetzee, remained too strong, eventually dismissing Sri Lanka for 282.South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 233 runs in the first Test, boosting their World Test Championship final hopes.
South Africa was also missing all-rounder Wiaan Mulder for the remainder of the series due to a broken finger, but their victory, highlighted by Jansen’s match-winning performance, kept their hopes alive for a place in the World Test Championship final.
