Twitter Reactions: South Africa fold the Lankans to win the Test by 206 runs

Day 5 started for Sri Lanka with a huge task at hand and little hope. South Africa and their bowlers had already sent back half their batting team to the pavilion on the penultimate day and the job was already half done for them. But with skipper Angelo Mathews still manning the crease with Dhananjaya de Silva on individual scores of 58 and 9 respectively they still thought of averting the inevitable.

Faf du Plessis and his boys were on the money straight away on the last day. Mathews was let to add just one run to his overnight score before Kyle Abbott trapped him right in front and he was taking the long walk. De Silva added 13 but had a similar fate and was out lbw on an Abbott delivery. Once the two were dismissed it was just a matter of time and the lower order couldn’t really do much to delay it.

Vernon Philander who bowled beautifully right through the Test match sent back Rangana Herath caught and bowled for 3 meanwhile at the other end, the third Protea pacer Kagiso Rabada also got into the act and had Dushmantha Chameera caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock for a duck. Suranga Lakmal batted for a while and played 29 deliveries for his 19 it looked like he wouldn’t give up but the fourth and last South African bowler Keshav Maharaj cleaned up Nuwan Pradeep for 4 to sweep the Lankans out of the game.

They were all out for 281 in the second inning and could bat just 96.3 overs. After having bowled well in the first inning they lost control of the game when the host bowlers came hard at them and then South Africa scored 406 to set a target of 488 runs ahead of the islanders. The last day was all about formality and the Proteas take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Here is how Twitter reacted to South Africa’s win:

.@stephen_cook91 with his Man of the Match trophy after the Proteas 206-run win over Sri Lanka in the first test. #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/9ennDYbkwE

— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) December 30, 2016

good that #SAvSL is over quickly – can move on from being told about "makkhan shave" in every break

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) December 30, 2016

We just keep throwing it away…. #SAvSL

— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) December 29, 2016

Since Aravinda, I don’t think any SL batsman has played the short ball as beautifully as Mathews. Total control. #SAvSL

— Andrew F Fernando (@andrewffernando) December 29, 2016

Most LBW dismissals in a calendar yr in intl. cricket:

535 2016* (Year of LBW dismissals)
528 2006
522 2010#AUSvPAK #SAvSL

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 30, 2016

Sri Lanka lost by 206. South Africa's opening partnerships in this match 104 & 116. failing to take early wickets cost us. #SriLanka #SAvSL

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) December 30, 2016

South Africa won by 206 runs in the first Test. Rabada & Maharaj picked 3 wickets each in 2nd innings. #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/ntQDRmllPf

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) December 30, 2016

Sri Lanka ?? on the loosing end have a lot of work to do but were definitely showing improvement. Key mistakes let the team down. #SAvSL

— Himash Marcar (@HimashMarc) December 30, 2016

All out.
Just 13.1 overs today. No spine on the last day after a terrific fighting 4th day batting 🙁
Disappointed.#SAvSL

Congrats #SA

— Loshan ARVLOSHAN (@LoshanARV) December 30, 2016

South Africa win, quite comfortably in the end. Don't seem to be missing Steyn too much, do they? #SAvSL

— Cricket Fantasy (@Cricket_Fantasy) December 30, 2016

Disappointed with SL performance. Well done to SA. Going big in 1st innings is crucial. Guys getting starts should convert them to ?

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) December 30, 2016