Sri Lanka rocked at start of South Africa run-chase
Sri Lanka were on the ropes on 62 for two after the second day of the first Test against South Africa here on Wednesday at Kingsmead having lost both their experienced openers for ducks.
Sri Lanka, who were given a measure of respectability by a 60 run partnership from Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, were 358 runs behind South Africa's first innings total of 420 at Kingsmead.
Sangakkara, who was 25 not out, and Jayawardene, who was on 31, steadied the Sri Lankan ship after they had been left reeling at 2 for 2 after just four overs earlier in the innings.
The duo showed more resilience than captain Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu, who were dismissed for ducks as the fired-up South Africans ripped into the tourists.
Atapattu was the first to go, run out after Makhaya Ntini steamed in from mid-off to gather the ball and hit the stump.
And a jumping Neil McKenzie at point plucked the ball out the air with his right hand to get rid of Jayasuriya off the bowling of Mfuneko Ngam for the same.
Sangakkara and Jayawardene, the only two batsmen to have shown form on tour so far, however batted defiantly - as Gary Kirsten and Lance Klusener (50) had done earlier.
The shaky start to their innings took the gloss off a good day for Sri Lanka, who had earlier bowled well to dismiss the Proteas.
After starting the day on 230 for three South Africa were all out shortly after tea for 420, with off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and 21-year-old seamer Dilhara Fernando, playing in only his second Test, bagging five wickets apiece.
The home team folded quickly after opener Kirsten was out on 180 after a marathon knock of nine-and-a-half hours.
He was caught offguard by a Fernando delivery that brushed his gloves en route to the wicketkeeper.
The young fast bowler from Colombo - who later said he has modelled himself on legendary South African paceman Allan Donald - ended up taking five for 98 and recorded speeds of up to 147 kilometres per hour.
It was the first time he had played with a "speed gun" recording the pace of his deliveries and he was consistently 15 or 20 kilometres per hour faster than either of Sri Lanka's more experienced pace bowlers, Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa, who went wicketless.
The South African innings survived only a further 29 minutes after Kirsten was caught as skipper Shaun Pollock (2), Ntini (8) and Nicky Boje (32) failed to add much resistance.
Muralitharan said he believes Sri Lanka have a good chance of fighting their way back into the Test even though his side are two wickets down and 358 runs behind on the first innings.
"If we can make 350, 360 runs and if in the third innings I can get more than five wickets we have a good chance of coming into this match."
Mail Cricket Editor
