Temba Bavuma struck his third test century and Tristan Stubbs his second as a dominant South Africa declared their second innings on 366 for five at tea on the third day of the first test at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.
This left Sri Lanka the massive task of scoring 516 to win in a maximum of seven sessions spanning today, Saturday and Sunday.
On another hot, sunny day in Durban, the pair made the Sri Lankan bowlers suffer as they added 239 in 433 balls – the team’s highest fourth-wicket partnership against Sri Lanka.
Stubbs has enjoyed a wonderful two months for his country, striking his debut test century against Bangladesh and his first ODI ton against Ireland as well as doubling up in terms of test hundreds today.
Altogether he struck nine fours and two sixes in his 221-ball innings that spanned five and a half hours. He was finally bowled by paceman Asitha Fernando who also accounted for Bavuma – leg before – on the cusp of tea, a decision that prompted the declaration. The South African captain batted seven minutes longer than Stubbs, striking nine fours in his 228-ball innings.
At the break, David Bedingham – who struck his first ball for four and added an on-driven six off Prabath Jayasuriya – was undefeated on 21 in 11 balls, a burst of aggression that suggested a declaration was imminent.
There was a moment of anxiety for Bavuma when he went to his hundred as the Sri Lankans appealed for leg before as he swept Jayasuriya. TV footage showed, however, that he had gloved the ball and the skipper’s hundred was assured.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (capt.), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada
SRI LANKA: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Prabath Jayasuriya, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Vishwa Fernando
