South Africa will resume their innings against Sri Lanka with a 221 lead at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday morning.  

Sri Lanka started the day on 242 for three in their first innings. Angelo Mathews was the first wicket to fall for 44 just before the new ball was available. The new ball brought quick rewards for Marco Jansen in the form of the wicket of Kamindu Mendis (48 off 92). But it was seamer Dane Paterson who dismantled the Sri Lankan batting attack, taking a career-best 5-71. Sri Lanka was all out on 328 in their first innings.

In South Africa's second innings, Tony de Zorzi again failed to get going and was Sri Lanka’s first wicket when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya for 19.  First innings centurion Ryan Rickelton managed to get to 24 before being trapped leg before wicket by Jayasuriya, while Aiden Markram scored a solid 55 before he was caught by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off the bowling of Vishwa Fernando.

Mr Consistent??

Temba Bavuma brings up yet another half-century in this series!
He is in a rich vein of form at the moment.????#WozaNawe#BePartOfIt #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/svsxb0lrkq

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) December 8, 2024

Captain Temba Bavuma (48 not out) and Tristan Stubbs (36 not out) will build on their 82-run partnership as they begin the fourth day.

At the press conference after the day’s play, Sri Lankan captain Matthews made it clear that his side is far from out of the game.

“We are not giving up. Obviously, they are in front of us, but if we can get a couple of early wickets tomorrow, we can still push them back,” he said. “And if we can, you know, get through the new ball, if we can push them back into second and third spells and make them tire a little bit, then we have a chance.”

It is a must-win game for both sides in their bid to reach next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger