South Africa vs Sri Lanka Live Cricket Score 1st Test, Day 4: Follow Scorecard & Match Action From Durban

A bright and sunny morning welcomes us in Durban. South Africa are just done with their huddle and pre-day talk and they spread out onto the field.

And now, the million-dollar question. How long? How long? One session? Two? Practically, because this is a long first session, scheduled for 135 minutes, one does not see this game dragging into the afternoon session. But say, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva see off the first 70 minutes without blemish, they could actually take this game into the second session. That’s how they need to aim. Hour by hour and then session by session. Forget the runs for now, just concentrate on what you can get. In David Warner’s words for Australia during the recent Perth Test, staring defeat in the face, ‘Get a net session’.

The hosts would be eyeing to bowl in the right channels and areas and not give the Lankans any respite. No balls is something they would definitely be concerned, even though they are well ahead in this match and would to bowl with as much accuracy as possible. Sometimes, when you are on top and not get much of a challenge, you get in that zone of getting things done quickly and not expect much resistance. And if and when you do, you start getting frustrated. South Africa seemed to be desperate in that second innings with the ball initially, wherein they were seen just wasting their reviews. They would be aiming to just do their work and let the result take care of itself. Remember, this is just the start of their home season, so they might take just that wee bit of extra time to get warmed up.

Now, South Africa. Any Protea fan reading the previous few paragraphs, would be rechecking where exactly has he / she entered. A fairytale book? From their point of view, clinical precision is what they seek. They got it pretty easy in the first innings, but found a glimmer of resistance when Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal were playing well. The pitch has definitely gotten better to bat but there were signs of inconsistent bounce on Friday and come Day 4, there could be even more.

There have been other comeback-from-dead miracles, not to mention the Dravid-Laxman epic in 2001, Kolkata against Australia or even the Abdur Razzaq-Kamran Akmal heist against India in 2008. The point is, it is Sri Lanka who need to believe that they can fight. Miracles do not happen every day, but if they have happened in the past, they can occur again. We cannot see the future, so we don’t know what lies in store. Just imagine – Sri Lanka battle hard, say don’t throw it away for two sessions – drag it into the third session and then suddenly, the weather opens up. Who knows – they could salvage a draw! Yes, it relies on hope but you also need to work hard to fathom that hope.

With everyone beside you telling directly or indirectly that this game is more or less done, how do you respond? Probably, look at some earlier games where legends from your country did the unthinkable. Let’s go in reverse order. Kusal Perera – 16th February, 2019, Durban. Sri Lanka were set a target of 304 and were 110/5. But one man – Kusal Perera – blasted an unbeaten 153 – to maintain Sri Lanka’s unblemished record at this venue in Tests. Let’s go a bit beyond. Rangana Herath – 7th July, 2009, Galle. Sri Lanka had set Pakistan a target of 168 in the fourth innings and at Stumps on Day 3, the visitors were 71/2,  needing just another 97 to win. JUST. Come Day 4, a canny left-arm spinner, Rangana Herath, just ran through Pakistan, with a 4-wicket haul, dismissing them for just 117 as Sri Lanka won by 50 runs.

Many times, it is said that a good start is the foundation to a successful outcome. Sometimes, it is also said that it does not matter how you start. What matters is how you finish. The second case can be applied to the first Australia-India Test in Perth, where it did not even matter how much India made batting first there. But here, in Durban, Sri Lanka’s 42 all out in their first innings has gone a long way in shaping their fortunes in the Test. A shambolic few minutes of batting completely erased their terrific effort with the ball earlier and now, they stand staring at a mountain, where they need to scale another 413 days, with 6 sessions potentially available, but just 5 wickets in hand. Of which, only 3 proper batters are left.

3 matches played. 2 wins and a draw. This is Sri Lanka’s Test record in Durban – the only team yet to suffer a defeat at this venue in this format. A very proud fact. But just as all good things have to come to an end, this record is on the verge of being broken today. Or perhaps tomorrow. With due respect to the nation, because of the massive task ahead of them, hard to see the Islanders battle for long, against a quality bowling attack. But, when one plays for pride, one can achieve exceptional things. Could we possibly see one or some of those exceptional things from the Lankans? On that note, hello and a warm welcome to the fourth and perhaps the final day of the opening Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Kingsmead, Durban.

… DAY 4 …

How’s the weather on Saturday? Excellent, says Mike Haysman on air. South Africa should wrap this up in the first session but for cricket’s sake, let’s hope Sri Lanka offer a fightback. Trying to score 413 runs from here will be a tall order but they can at least make the home side work for its wickets. It’s Sunday where the forecast is poor but it will be a great achievement if the visitors take this to the second session. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 am GMT on Day 4, on Saturday, 30th November 2024, but our build-up will begin much earlier. Do tune in early then. You can also catch all the action from the New Zealand-England Test and keep yourselves entertained. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

South Africa will be more or less happy with their state right now. Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs batted beautifully, setting up a huge target and then the bowlers have done fairly well. But one felt that they were just a bit too desperate with the new ball. They wasted 2 out of their 3 reviews pretty early but after those 2 quick wickets, they kind of settled down. The new-ball bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen, were consistent but were indisciplined with their no balls. The pair has bowled 8 no balls already, 5 by Rabada and 3 by Jansen and need to work that out for the coming days. Gerald Coetzee, looking to bowl as quick as possible, was all over the place, while Maharaj might just want to forget this Test as one with his guest appearance, simply because the seamers are not leaving him with much work to do.

After a surprise declaration at the Tea break, with no one given any whiff, Sri Lanka started their innings like a rollercoaster. They were flying at 5 an over but also lost their openers fairly cheaply. Two experienced stalwarts, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews, then got the repair job underway nicely, adding 44 for the third wicket, before the gloomy conditions altered their path. Chandimal is still battling out there, on a valiant 29, but he will have a massive job on Saturday, to try and take Sri Lanka to a competitive total.

Will the umpires come under scrutiny for this game? Especially that last hour? With light fading, allowing the seamers, who can bowl at 140 clicks, to carry on was a questionable decision. The Lankan batters suffered a few blows but surprisingly, the quicks were not taken off. Maybe, because the visitors were not complaining, the umpires felt that it was okay. That could have been a telling factor as well. Who knows, if the decision had been made on not to allow the seamers to carry on, Sri Lanka might have still been 2 down.

Sri Lanka probably would have taken 3 wickets at Stumps, but one false shot from Kamindu Mendis, followed by a scorcher by Tony de Zorzi, have left them licking their wounds. With 7 wickets in the bag, they could have looked at batting big on Saturday, but the complexion has changed now. They still can look to bat big, but their options have dwindled. Only Kusal Mendis is left amongst the recognized batters.

That’s why, it is said, Test cricket is the best. Never go by what is happening in the present. You can never say when will the game change. Sri Lanka were doing okay at 82/2, but suddenly, with the conditions getting a bit overcast, the ball started to do something and they lost 3/19 in under 10 overs.

What a way to end the day. The South Africans will be cock-a-hoop, but you have got to feel for the Sri Lankans. They batted much better in this dig so far, but those last 40-45 minutes have left them crestfallen.

30.6 – Full and outside off, DC gets across and then takes his bat away from the ball. That will be it for the day. STUMPS ON DAY 3, SRI LANKA ARE 103/5, CHASING 516!

Batsman_1 : Dinesh Chandimal 29(62)

Batsman_2 : Dhananjaya de Silva 0(1)

Bowler : Gerald Coetzee 1/39(5)

Over : 31

Run : 2

Wicket : 0

Score : 103/5

30.5 – A length ball, darts back in, Dinesh works it past Tony de Zorzi at short leg. By the time long leg can get to the ball, a couple of runs are taken.

30.4 – Another wide ball, a bit wild as well. Bounces well away, Chandimal arches away.

30.3 – A touch wider outside off, Dinesh Chandimal shoulders arms.

30.2 – Outside off, left alone.

30.1 – Full, around middle, Dinesh Chandimal pushes it towards mid on.

Will we get another over? Seems like we will. Gerald Coetzee to bowl. 4-0-37-1 so far.

29.6 – Outside off, pushed towards point.

Batsman_1 : Dhananjaya de Silva 0(1)

Batsman_2 : Dinesh Chandimal 27(56)

Bowler : Kagiso Rabada 2/34(11)

Over : 30

Run : 1

Wicket : 1

Score : 101/5

Who walks in now? The skipper, Dhananjaya de Silva has decided to shoulder the responsibility.

29.5 – OUT! CAUGHT! Tony de Zorzi has pulled off a blinder at short leg! Probably the hardest position in the field to be in to take a catch but de Zorzi has pulled it off brilliantly! Excellent reflexes! Kagiso Rabada bowls it into the pads on a length and Prabath Jayasuriya flicks it right off the middle of the bat and straight over Tony de Zorzi at short leg. He rises a bit and sticks both his hands above his face and grabs onto it. Prabath Jayasuriya stands there in disbelief but that sums it up for Sri Lanka as they lose half their side for 101 runs!

29.4 – Hits the deck hard, on a back of a length, over off, Prabath Jayasuriya keeps it out well.

28.2 – On a good length this time, well defended.

28.1 – Full and outside off, Prabath Jayasuriya gets across and defends it solidly.

28.6 – Sri Lanka get to the 100-run mark! On a length, on off, Prabath Jayasuriya pushes it to cover and gets a single to get off the mark.

Batsman_1 : Prabath Jayasuriya 1(6)

Batsman_2 : Dinesh Chandimal 27(56)

Bowler : Marco Jansen 2/22(11)

Over : 29

Run : 1

Wicket : 0

Score : 100/4

28.5 – Angling into the pads, on a length, Prabath Jayasuriya turns it around to short leg where Tony de Zorzi makes a sharp stop low to his right.

28.4 – Back of a length, on middle, Prabath Jayasuriya stands in the crease and looks to tuck it across but misses high onto his thigh.

28.3 – Good bounce this time. From a good length, outside off. Jayasuriya rises with the bounce and dabs it down on the off side.

29.1 – Full and around off, Prabath Jayasuriya defends. Not for the first time in this innings, the third umpire, Joel Wilson informs the on-field umpire Paul Reiffel, that Rabada has overstepped. NO BALL NUMBER 5 FROM HIM!

Ahhh… the physio is out in the middle now. Dinesh Chandimal has taken a lot of blows in this innings but this one is for the latest blow in the 28th over, where he copped one on the left shoulder against Rabada. Chandimal is getting a bit of a treatment there, along with a bit of a massage. Pops in a couple of pills as well. Of course, that takes out a couple of minutes, which means that this next Rabada over could well be the final one for the day.

29.3 – A short ball, down the leg side, Jayasuriya gets across and tucks it through fine leg. Jayasuriya starts to run but is sent back initially. Then, when Chandimal sees the ball go past the keeper, he starts to run. But suddenly, Chandimal realizes that the job of a nightwatchman is to actually protect the set batter. Sends Jayasuriya back again. Dot ball, after all these events.

29.2 – On a good length, around off, extra bounce, the tall Prabath Jayasuriya rises with the bounce and pushes it towards point.

29.1 – Around off, pushed towards the off side.