South Africa is on a remarkable journey in Test cricket, continuing to impress as they move closer to the World Test Championship (WTC) final for 2023-25. In a tightly contested second Test match against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, the Proteas secured a 2-0 series victory at home on Monday, December 9. This win extends South Africa’s winning streak to five matches in 2024, putting them ahead in the race for the WTC final.
After their recent success, South Africa has climbed to the top of the World Test Championship standings, surpassing Australia, who recently defeated India by ten wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s second Test in Adelaide on Sunday, December 8.
### World Test Championship Standings
Captain Temba Bavuma’s return to the squad was a significant boost, as he made impactful contributions throughout the series. In the two matches against Sri Lanka, Bavuma scored a century and three fifties. After missing the previous series win against Bangladesh, he showcased his exceptional form by leading his team to victory over Sri Lanka.
The first Test in the series saw South Africa dominate Sri Lanka by 233 runs at Kingsmead, while the second Test proved to be more hard-fought.
### Match Highlights: SA vs SL, 2nd Test
In the second Test, South Africa opted to bat first despite challenging windy conditions. The innings started poorly for the home side, who found themselves at 44 for 3 against a spirited Sri Lankan bowling attack. However, a crucial partnership of 133 runs between Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma revitalized their innings. Rickelton, in just his eighth Test, scored his first Test century with a knock of 101 runs off 231 balls. This effort, along with Bavuma’s 78 runs and an important 77-run partnership with Kyle Verreynne for the sixth wicket, led South Africa to a total of 269 for 7 at the end of the first day.
Verreynne later scored a century, helping South Africa finish their first innings with a solid score of 358. In response, Sri Lanka managed to score 328 runs, with Pathum Nissanka being the top scorer for the visitors with 89 runs. South Africa’s bowling was spearheaded by Dane Paterson, who claimed five wickets and ensured that Sri Lanka did not take a first-innings lead.
In their second innings, South Africa scored 317 runs, with Bavuma contributing 66 runs and Tristan Stubbs adding 47. Despite a strong performance from Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Jayasuriya, who took five wickets, South Africa set a challenging target for Sri Lanka.
In their final innings, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 238 runs in 69.1 overs, with Keshav Maharaj shining with the ball for South Africa, taking five wickets and helping dismantle the Sri Lankan batting order. South Africa’s bowlers maintained control throughout the innings, effectively thwarting Sri Lanka’s attempts to chase down the target.
As South Africa celebrates this victory, they also reinforce their position as strong contenders for the upcoming World Test Championship final.
