Lunch South Africa 82 for 3 (Rickelton 29*, Bavuma 27*, Kumara 2-17) vs Sri Lanka
In blustery conditions, Sri Lanka started well and got immediate reward. Tony de Zorzi was given out lbw off Asitha Fernando off the first ball of the second over when he was hit on the full by an inswinging delivery on leg stump. De Zorzi reviewed but both impact and wickets were umpire’s call and the decision stood.
That brought Rickelton, promoted to No. 3, to the crease. He was off the mark straightaway as he leaned into a drive and hit an Asitha full toss for four through mid-off. Asitha tightened up and rapped him on the pads later in the over and the cat-and-mouse tone was set.
Aiden Markram was willing to chase width and scored three boundaries in the next two overs but Rickelton was more circumspect. He had to be as Vishwa Fernando tested him with away movement. Between them, they survived the new-ball bowlers’ opening spells and got to 26 for 1 before Sri Lanka made their first change.
Kumara took over from Asitha’s end, where there was more bounce on offer, and started by overstepping as he delivered a half-volley for Rickelton to crack through the covers for four. Sri Lanka made a double change and introduced the spin of Prabath Jayasuriya at the other end, which was playing more placidly. Kumara broke through in his next over when Markram went for a drive to a delivery that nipped back in and bowled him. That gave Kumara his 100th Test wicket,
Tristan Stubbs, who scored a century at Durban, walked out to bat for the first time in a Test at his home ground with the band in full flow but his stay was short. He reached for a wide Kumara delivery with hard hands and edged to Kusal Mendis, who took a good catch moving to his right.
The other centurion from Kingsmead, Bavuma, started full of confidence when he flicked Jayasuriya behind square to bring up South Africa’s fifty. Bavuma played some deft shots including a late guide between second and third slip and got on top of the bounce to hit Asitha for back-to-back boundaries. His most aggressive side came out when he rocked back to hit Jayasuriya over midwicket and out of the ground. The ball was retrieved from over a low wall and the over was closed out with no further damage done.
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