Watch cricket video highlights of Sri Lanka tour of South Africa 2024. 1st Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa. Venue of the match will be Durban.
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Before his seamers dismissed four South Africa batsmen, Sri Lanka’s skipper inserted the opposition, making for an almost ideal first Test morning under the gloomy Durban sky. However, rain came just before midday on the first day, making only 20.4 overs practicable. Until play was canceled at about 3 p.m., it remained in place above Kingsmead. With their ability to whizz the ball about on a slightly damp pitch, Vishwa and Asitha Fernando had spearheaded Sri Lanka’s efforts, often beating and occasionally collecting the outer edges of South African bats.
The left-arm fast Vishwa was particularly well-behaved and found both away movement off the deck and a considerable inswing in the air from over the wicket. Shortly after Asitha had Aiden Markram held in the cordon, he removed Tony de Zorzi, who was caught by a diving Kamindu Mendis at second slip. Both bowlers struck in their second over of the day. Together, Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs scored 32 runs, many of which came off the outside edge through deep third, as they clawed their way to the drinks break.
However, the quickest bowler in Sri Lanka, Lahiru Kumara, made up for a mishandled first over by forcing Stubbs to deflect one to third slip. The most spectacular dismissal of a brief day’s play came shortly after, when he tucked a ball past David Bedingham’s defenses to send his off-stump cartwheeling. Two mistakes would have prevented Sri Lanka from having an even better morning. Dimuth Karunaratne should have held Bavuma for one, but he missed the low chance at second slip. Bavuma finished the day on 28, having survived 47 balls.
That was off Vishwa’s bowling. Bavuma then edged a bouncer he was attempting to hook just before rain came, cutting the practice short by four minutes. However, it was determined that Kumara had slightly overstepped. The umpires summoned Bavuma back as he was leaving into the changing room. At that time, he was on 20. But among the hitters from South Africa, Bavuma was arguably the most cautious.
Although his outside edge was often beaten, he did not seem particularly keen to feel bat on ball as Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers hammered away in the channel, covering the line of his stumps beautifully. When the rain started, he was accompanied by Kyle Verreyne, who was both a batsman and wicketkeeper. Despite taking two wickets, Kumara’s four overs cost 35 runs. Vishwa went at less than three an over, as did Asitha. Better weather is predicted for Thursday. Because they won the toss, Sri Lanka will believe they done justice to the favorable bowling conditions they were given.
