Philander strikes as proteas dominate on first day
Graeme Smith scored a half-century but fell late on as South Africa
made a confident reply after dismissing Sri Lanka for 180 on the opening
day of the first test on Thursday.
Seam bowler Vernon Philander claimed five wickets for the hosts, who
reached 90 for one at the close at Centurion.
South Africa captain Smith looked in fine form as he stroked seven
fours in his 61 his 30th half-century in his 94th test but played around
a full delivery from Dilhara Fernando to be trapped lbw. Opening partner
Jacques Rudolph was unbeaten on 27.
Sri Lanka’s bowers were steady, but they struggled to obtain the same
assistance the South Africans did, even though the home attack sprayed
the ball around disconcertingly at times. South Africa’s much-vaunted
attack were struggling in helpful conditions as Thilan Samaraweera and
Angelo Mathews added 65 for the fifth wicket off just 80 balls.
The pair took Sri Lanka to 156 for four before Philander struck three
times in four overs to complete his third five-wicket haul in three
tests. Philander’s destructive burst began with two wickets in
successive deliveries, both given out on review, as Samaraweera (36)
edged an excellent delivery that nipped away off the seam and Kaushal
Silva was adjudged to have brushed the ball with his glove as it flew to
wicketkeeper Mark Boucher down the leg side. Sri Lanka had lost three
wickets in five balls to slump to 157 for seven and Philander struck
again to have Mathews caught by Kallis for 38.
Philander made full use of the grass on the pitch to claim five for
53 in 13 overs. Dale Steyn produced a couple of top-class away swingers
to bowl Chanaka Welegedara (4) and Fernando (0) with successive
deliveries, ending the Sri Lankan innings on the stroke of tea.
Steyn had earlier removed Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene,
who edged a back-foot drive into the slips for 30, the fast bowler
finishing with impressive figures of four for 18.
Captain Dilshan’s rash shot gave Sri Lanka a poor start and they
battled to 76 for three at lunch after being put into bat. REUTERS
SRI LANKA FIRST INNINGS
T. Paranavitana b Philander 32
T. Dilshan c Philander b Steyn 6
K. Sangakkara c Kallis b Philander 1
M. Jayawardene c Smith b Steyn 30
T. Samaraweera c Boucher b Philander 36
A. Mathews c Kallis b Philander 38
K. Silva c Boucher b Philander 0
T. Perera c Kallis b Tahir 1
R. Herath not out 14
C. Welegedara b Steyn 4
D. Fernando b Steyn 0
Extras (b-1, lb-7, w-4, nb-6) 18
TOTAL (all out; 47.4 overs) 180
Fall of wickets: 1-11 2-12 3-66 4-91 5-156 6-156 7-157 8-175
9-180 1
Bowling: Steyn 10.4-3-18-4, Philander 13-2-53-5 (nb-3, w-2),
Morkel 10-1-48-0 (nb-3, w-2), Kallis 8-2-31-0, Tahir 6-0-22-1.
SOUTH AFRICA FIRST INNINGS
J. Rudolph not out 27
G. Smith lbw b Fernando 61
D. Steyn not out 0
Extras (nb-2) 2
TOTAL (one wicket, 34 overs) 90
Fall of wickets: 1-88
To bat: H. Amla, AB de Villiers, A. Prince, M. Boucher, V.
Philander, M. Morkel, Imran Tahir
Bowling (to date): Welegedara 9-2-19-0 (nb-1), Perera
8-1-34-0, Mathews 3-2-4-0, Fernando 7-1-21-1 (nb-1), Dilshan
2-0-4-0, Herath 5-2-8-0. |
