Sri Lanka in South Africa, 2011 Test Series: 2nd Test, Day 3

Kumar Sangakkara's pioneering century in South Africa put the hosts to the sword on Day 3. - a_faisal69 / flickr

Kumar Sangakkara leads the charge of Sri Lanka's resurgent cricket team against a rattled South Africa on day 3 of the second Test match.

At long last, Sri Lanka had reason to smile, as Chanaka Welegedera and Rangana Herath did the unthinkable and bundled South Africa out for a measly 168. It secured a vital 170-run lead over South Africa going into the second innings, but the hosts were not far behind, with Dale Steyn snapping up the big wicket of Tillekeratne Dilshan to leave Sri Lanka at 7/1 - effectively 177/1 - when stumps were drawn.

Early Struggles for Sri Lanka

Day 3 started with clouds over the ground, and clouds over South Africa, as Mark Boucher dropped Kumar Sangakkara (on nought) off Morne Morkel from just the fourth ball of the day. Morkel had his revenge, snaring an edge off Tharanga Paranavitana to leave Sri Lanka in familiar trouble at 20/2. Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene stitched a brief recovery before falling LBW to Marchant de Lange. Sri Lanka 44/3, but Sangakkara, aided by Thilan Samaraweera, fought back to score quick runs and finish the truncated session at 64/3.

Sangakkara & Samaraweera vs. South Africa

The two batsmen were bullish in the second session, bringing up the 50 partnership off just 82 balls, then taking the score past 100 in the same over. Sangakkara reached his half-century shortly after, and even the reintroduction of the fearsome Dale Steyn into the attack couldn't stop the Sri Lankans from dictating terms. Runs and boundaries flowed as the lead passed 300, but just as South Africa seemed to have settled for defensive play, Imran Tahir forced Samaraweera to play on to his stumps. Samaraweera gone for 43, and South Africa finally had a breakthrough at 138/4, ending a vital 94-run partnership.

South Africa Fight, but Sri Lanka Ahead

The second breakthrough came in the next over, as Angelo Mathews threw his wicket away with a wild slog against Dale Steyn. 141/5, with the hosts back in the fight now. But they ran into Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal, continuing his impressive debut. The two distanced Sri Lanka from the brace of wickets, as Sangakkara raced through the 90s to reach three figures and score his first Test century in South Africa. And to think, he was dropped before he had even scored. Sri Lanka went to tea sitting very nicely at 207/5.

Sangakkara's Century Makes It Sri Lanka's Day

The runs continued to pile on in the final session. When Sri Lanka passed 230/5, the lead crossed 400. Sangakkara's century led the way as he became the highest Sri Lankan run scorer in South Africa, his 105* making his the highest individual Sri Lankan score in the country. Chandimal soon reached his second half-century of the game, becoming the first Sri Lankan debutante to do so, before Steyn finally snapped the 104-run stand, finding Chandimal's edge for 54. 245/6, but the game well and truly with Sri Lanka.

South Africa gained some momentum with Kumar Sangakkara's wicket the next over, but his stellar 108 ensured it was too little, too late for the hosts. Decaying light led to stumps being called at 256/7, with the visitors ahead by an unreachable 426.

Will Lankan Lightning Strike Twice?

The job is not yet over for Sri Lanka; they still have to bowl South Africa out again, and the chances of two poor South African batting displays in one game is very slim. That said, after the Lankans were rolled over for under 200 in both innings in the previous game, this is a markedly better showing. The batting needs more work - lots of batsmen threw their wickets away - but the displays of Sangakkara, Samaraweera and especially Dinesh Chandimal are reassuring. Now the question is, can Welegedera and Herath turn it on again.

A Rare Off-Day For South Africa

It was a disappointing day for South Africa's bowlers. They did work hard to prize out some wickets, but a lot of that also came from the Sri Lankans' poor technique and shot selection. Once Sangakkara, Samaraweera and Chandimal settled in, there was no fight or drive from the host team. It will be interesting to see what their strategy is, with a possible target of 450 to get in two days, with the memory of being bundled out for 168 still fresh on their minds.

Sri Lanka vs. South Africa, Second Test, Day 3:

• Sri Lanka 256/7 (Kumar Sangakkara 108, Dale Steyn 16-3-54-3)
• lead South Africa by 426 h 3 wickets remaining

Scorecard at Cricinfo

Copyright Michael Perera. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.

Michael Perera - The only rule in writing is honesty. If you're honest, the words will write themselves.

Source: http://michaelperera.suite101.com/sri-lanka-in-south-africa-2011-test-series-2nd-test-day-3-a399855

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