Sunday’s fourth day of the second Test against South Africa at St George’s Park saw Sri Lanka’s hopes rescued by Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis.
Sri Lanka, set 348 to win, reached 205 for five as captain De Silva and last known batsman Mendis shared an unbeaten 83. Two wickets from fast bowler Dane Paterson and left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj reduced Sri Lanka to 122 for five, setting up a 2-0 series sweep.
De Silva and Mendis, who hit 39 not out, kept the South African bowlers at bay and kept the score over four runs per over.
Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took five for 129, his tenth five-wicket haul in Tests but his first outside Sri Lanka, as South Africa were bowled out for 317 in their second innings after resuming on 191,
Three of the five wickets before lunch were bowled into the rough beyond right-handed batsmen’s leg stumps by Jayasuriya. Batsmen playing outside leg deliveries gave him three Sunday wickets.
Kagiso Rabada trapped Dimuth Karunaratne in the third over of the fourth innings, but South Africa struggled to find wickets on a good batting field.
