Sri Lanka bowled out for its lowest score in Test history as South Africa leads Durban Test by 281 runs

Marco Jansen of South Africa celebrates the wicket of Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka during day 2 of the 1st Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium on November 28, 2024 in Durban, South Africa.
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Sri Lanka was routed for 42 on a day when 19 wickets fell in the Durban Test against South Africa

South Africa led Sri Lanka by 281 runs in the first cricket Test at Kingsmead by the end of a dramatic second day in which 19 wickets fell on Thursday (November 28, 2024).

Sri Lanka appeared to be in control at lunch after South Africa was bowled out for a seemingly pitiful 191.

But in the next 83 legal deliveries — 13.5 overs — Sri Lanka was routed for 42, its worst total in Test history.

Just how badly Sri Lanka used a batter-friendly pitch, and how brilliantly medium-pacer Marco Jansen bowled for a career best 7-13, was starkly illustrated again when South Africa’s second innings reached 132-3 at stumps.

South Africa even has all-rounder Wiaan Mulder no longer available for the rest of the Test. He broke a finger while batting in the morning, retired hurt but returned when South Africa was nine down, to reach 9 not out. He won’t bowl or field and those skills weren’t missed after lunch. But for the second innings, Mulder was raised up the order from No. 7 to No. 3 and added 15 runs in obvious pain.

Aiden Markram led South Africa’s second bat with 47, and captain Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs were unbeaten on 24 and 17 respectively with three days still left.

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took two of the three wickets, his 100th and 101st in his 17th Test.

Sri Lanka unravelled in a hurry when it batted.

Dimuth Karunaratne edged Kagiso Rabada to first slip in the third over.

Two balls later, the other opener, Pathum Nissanka, edged Jansen to third slip.

Dinesh Chandimal gave Jansen a gap between bat and pad and lost his off stump. Angelo Mathews gave his wicket to Jansen, poking at a ball angling away outside off.

Kamindu Mendis, the top-scorer with 13, fell trying to drive Gerald Coetzee through cover, and Sri Lanka dropped to 32-5 in the 11th over.

It was all out for 42 when the last five wickets fell in the space of 15 balls.

The last wicket, the fifth duck of the innings, was a caught and bowled by Jansen.

Sri Lanka’s previous worst total was 71 just over 20 years ago in Kandy against Pakistan.

South Africa needed the lowest number of deliveries in 100 years to rout the Sri Lankans. England blew away South Africa in 75 balls in 1924.

Jansen’s 7-13 came in 6.5 overs, one a maiden, and he became only the second bowler after off-spinner Hugh Trumble of Australia, in 1904, to take seven wickets inside seven overs of a Test innings.

After the rain-affected first day, the second day started under breezy blue skies and the pitch was far better for batting. But the damage was done for South Africa, which resumed on 80-4.

Bavuma, who should have been out on 1 or 20 on Wednesday, was chanceless on Thursday as he resumed on 28 and hung tough. But wickets fell regularly at the other end.

Kyle Verreynne didn’t add to his overnight score of 9, and Jansen and Coetzee were removed when Jayasuriya joined the attack.

A Keshav Maharaj cameo of 24, including three boundaries and a six, held Bavuma on 49 for nearly six overs. He reached his 22nd Test fifty off 93 balls.

The captain was finally out when he mistimed a swipe at Asitha Fernando. Bavuma’s 70 off 117 balls included nine boundaries.

At nine down, Mulder returned after retiring hurt on 1 when he defended fast bowler Lahiru Kumara and jammed the middle finger of his right hand. He was to have had an X-ray at lunch but South Africa’s peril extended the morning session so Mulder returned after 20 overs. He was 9 not out when the innings ended.

Fast bowlers Asitha Fernando took 3-44, Kumara 3-70, and Vishwa Fernando 2-35.