South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2nd Test, Day 1 - 5 Talking Points

After a thoroughly convincing win against Sri Lanka in the Boxing day Test, South Africa were keen on sealing the series in the next Test. The action moved to Newlands, Cape Town as the two teams were all in readiness for the second Test. Sri Lanka came into the manage with a hope of staying alive in the 3-Test series. Things started off well for them as they won a crucial toss and opted to bowl first.

However, by the end of the day’s play, it would be fair to say that South Africa held the upper hand on the day. They finished at 297/6 at stumps with Quinton de Kock at the crease. The wicket-keeper batsman looks good for more and will be the key wicket for the hosts on day 2.

Earlier in the day, the Proteas had a horrid start as they lost Stephen Cook on a duck. But they were then steered on by the other opener, Dean Elgar. Elgar’s magnificent ton was the back bone of the South African innings on the day. Skipper Faf du Plessis chipped in with crucial runs in the middle overs too. The hosts look well on course to dominate the Test. Here are 5 talking points from the day 1 play of the second Test:

1. Early blow

South Africa were into bat on a tricky surface at Cape Town. The visiting captain was unsure about the behavior of the surface. No wonder why he put in the hosts in to bat on the day. In walked South African openers Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar. All eyes were set on Stephen Cook. Cook came in to the match riding on consecutive tons in Test cricket. He followed up his century at Adelaide against Australia with a ton in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Also read- SA v SL 2nd Test, Day 1 Review: Elgar, de Kock shine as South Africa gain upper hand

It was his century that helped South Africa win the first Test and he was rightly adjudged as the Man of the Match. However, he had a very short stay in the second Test. He was sent back on a duck in the very first over of the Test by Suranga Lakmal. Lakmal, who had scalped a career best five wicket haul in the first Test, continued his merry run. Later in the day, Lakmal got the wicket of Dean Elgar as well. He finished with 2/69 on day 1.

2. South Africa rides on Dean Elgar’s ton

While Stephen Cook failed to impress, it was Dean Elgar who called the shots on the first day of this Test. Elgar lost the support of Cook early but did not let that tinker his concentration. He batted alon for majority part of the day. It was only fitting that he ended up getting his sixth Test ton in the process.

The moment came in the 69th over when he punched one to the long off boundary for a four off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep to reach the milestone. He was dismissed towards the end of the day by Suranga Lakmal on 129. His effort came in 230 balls with 15 boundaries to his name.

3. Middle-order slump

At one end, it was Dean Elgar, who continued to anchor the innings. However, he kept losing support from the other end. No other batsman in the South African middle-order other than Quinton de Kock crossed the 40-run mark. Hashim Amla failed to convert a start to a big one yet again.

He batted out 68 deliveries for his 29. JP Duminy, who had hit a timely fifty in the last game, was sent back for a duck. Faf du Plessis gave a brief resistance but could not make it big on the day either. Temba Bavuma’s struggle in the series continued as he got out on yet another low score – 10.

4. QDK shows style, class and caliber

If there has been one batsman in South African cricket who has constantly been amongst the runs in the last 12 months, it has been Quinton de Kock. The southpaw scored yet another fifty in the match. This was his consecutive fifty after scoring a fifty in the first Test as well. The knock was embellised with 7 boundaries that included a couple of Quinton de Kock trademark cut shots.

By the end of the day, he remained unbeaten on 68 off 90 balls. He will hold the key in the next day’s play as he is capable of striking runs at a brisk rate – something that South Africa will be hopeful for.

5. Lahiru Kumara impresses with the ball

19-year old pace bowler Lahiru Kumara was a surprise pick in the playing eleven of the second Test. But the youngster showed that he has it in him to belong at the highest level of the game. Kumara, who had made his debut against Zimbabwe in 2016, finished as the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers on day 1. He managed to get through the defenses of Hashim Amla earlier in the day.

He soon backed it up with another beauty that squared up JP Duminy for a duck. Later, he managed to see the back of Temba Bavuma on just 10. With 3 wickets to his name in 17 overs, he gave away 86 runs. Despite being the most expensive bowler for the visitors, he managed to strike at regular intervals.

Watch: A wicket to remember for 19-year-old Lahiru Kumara

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhWW9gaR7js