Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs played key roles in extending South Africa’s dominance over Sri Lanka, adding 101 runs in the first session of day three. Their unbeaten stand of 144 helped South Africa reach 233 for 3 by lunch, leading Sri Lanka by 382 runs. Bavuma, on 64, and Stubbs, on 70, both registered half-centuries as they capitalized on the best batting conditions of the match, with no wickets falling in the session.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, already worn out from the previous day’s efforts, struggled to break through. Despite a few half-hearted lbw appeals and a difficult catching chance, their attack lacked the necessary venom. Vishwa Fernando nearly dismissed Stubbs, but Angelo Mathews dropped a tough chance at slip. The seamers’ pace had decreased, and left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya failed to extract significant turn, allowing the South African duo to bat with confidence.
Bavuma began the day by flicking Lahiru Kumara to the boundary and continued to play assertively. Stubbs, initially cautious, grew in confidence, with his first boundary coming from a reverse sweep against Jayasuriya. He later dispatched Dhananjaya de Silva for a big six over long-on. Bavuma reached his half-century off 112 balls, while Stubbs took 121 balls to do the same. With the second new ball still to be taken, South Africa was in a commanding position, leaving Sri Lanka with an uphill battle to avoid a heavy defeat.
Leave a Reply