Lanka heading towards a big defeat

Lanka heading towards a big defeat
Reuters

CAPE TOWN, JANUARY 4: Sri Lanka's inevitable slide to second Test defeat against South Africa continued unchecked on Thursday when they struggled to 112 for five at tea, still 297 behind.

Four wickets fell in the second session of the third day, the first when Kumar Sangakkara (11) edged Mfuneko Ngam to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher just three overs after the resumption.

Marvan Atapattu's grim innings of 13 ended when Shaun Pollock trapped him lbw.

Mahela Jayawardene's attempts to counter-attack succeeded briefly before he was trapped lbw sweeping at spinner Nicky Boje. His entertaining 45 came from just 65 balls with eight boundaries.

Another miserable session for the tourists was completed when Russel Arnold swept Boje straight to Herschelle Gibbs at square leg to depart for 26.

Sri Lanka's innings began badly just before lunch when captain Sanath Jayasuriya cut the second ball he received from Ngam to Pollock in the gulley to be dismissed, after confirmation from the third umpire, for a duck.

Earlier, Pollock finally called an end to the slaughter of Sri Lanka's bowlers after South Africa had reached 504 for seven, a first innings lead of 409.

Resuming on 426 for six, the hosts continued the mauling of day two with fellow left handers Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje carrying their seventh wicket partnership to 93 before Klusener's departure heralded the declaration.

Having launched part-time spinner Russel Arnold for a straight six to reach 97, Klusener seemed bemused by a miserable over of wides and long hops from part-timer Jayawardene, and his concentration was broken.

A long hop in Arnold's next over was pulled straight to Jayasuriya at square leg and he departed for the second time in his career for 97. He faced 143 deliveries and struck 13 fours and the six. Boje was left unbeaten on 31.

Daryll Cullinan (112) scored his 12th Test century and Boucher added 92 earlier in the innings.

South Africa's lead was the fifth highest recorded by a team batting second in Test cricket.

SRI LANKA: (Ist innings) 95 all out
SOUTH AFRICA: (Ist innings) G Kirsten c Dilshan b Muralitharan 52, H Gibbs c Sangakkara b Vaas 0, J Kallis c Jayawardene b Fernando 49, D Cullinan run out 112, N McKenzie c&b Arnold 47, M Boucher c Jayawardene b Arnold 92, L Klusener c Jayasuriya b Arnold 97, N Boje not out 31; Extras (lb-5, w-1, nb-18) 24. Total (for seven decl) 504
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-97, 3-130, 4-231, 5-317, 6-411, 7-504
Bowling: Vaas 32-6-109-1 (nb-8), Zoysa 26-6-80-0 (w-1), Fernando 25-2-105-1 (nb-10), Muralitharan 43-11-99-1, Jayasuriya 7-1-28-0, Arnold 24.2-4-76-3, Jayawardene 1-0-2-0
SRI LANKA: (2nd innings) M Atapattu lbw Pollock 13, S Jayasuriya c Pollock b Ngam 0, K Sangakkara c Boucher b Ngam 11, M Jayawardene lbw Boje 45, R Arnold c Gibbs b Boje 26, T Dilshan not out 11, A Gunawardene not out 0;Extras (lb-2, nb-3, w-1) 6. Total (for five) 112
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-18, 3-53, 4-99, 5-113
Bowling: Pollock 9-3-29-1, Ngam 7-1-34-2 (nb-3, w-1), Kallis 7-1-29-0, Ntini 5-1-16-0, Boje 3-1-2-2