SA vs SL 2024/25, SA vs SL First Test Match Report, 27 November – 1 December 2024

Sri Lanka 42 and 103 for 5 (Chandimal 29*, Jansen 2-22, Rabada 2-34) need 413 more runs to win South Africa 191 and 366 for 5 December (Stubbs 122, Bavuma 113, Vishwa 2–64)

Sri Lanka’s late wickets produced some drama but it was the 249-run partnership, equaling the record for the fourth wicket at this ground, that was the centerpiece of Friday’s action. In the morning, Stubbs and Bavuma laid the foundation for their centuries, agreeing on some sporadic checks in the early overs.

However, by then it was clear that the Kingsmead pitch had lost much of what it had in the first few sessions of this match. South Africa increased the pace in the second session, reaching 4.81 runs in the afternoon.

On the third day, the Sri Lankan team slowed down, which was perhaps to be expected from an attack that was approaching 150 overs in the match. They succeeded and eventually managed to dismiss Stubbs and Bavuma at the end of the second session. But by this point South Africa’s lead had grown to over 500. When they declared they were only five wickets behind at tea, they set Sri Lanka on 516 to win.

However, it was the two hundred South African batters who generated the greatest enthusiasm from the Kingsmead crowd, and the most dramatic of the trips to triple figures was Bavuma’s victory. He showed hesitation in the 90s when Sri Lanka appealed against him and made him play and miss.

Bavuma’s achievement of the third century was the most dramatic moment of the day. After batting on 98, he came down the circle past Prabath Jayasuriya and was hit on the pad. The umpire denied the lbw appeal as the batters walked three.

But, having taken off his helmet in celebration, he had to wait a little longer for Sri Lanka to reconsider their decision. Luckily for Bavuma, Sniko caught a very slight deflection of his glove from the pad in real time and as soon as it was shown on the big screen, Bavuma swung the bat in the air and the crowd recognized him before the final. “It didn’t work out” the solution came. It was only his third career ton, but second as captain.

Stubbs reached his second Test hundred in an easier way. In the 90s, he played only 14 goals before completing this important stage together with Asita Fernando. Stubbs was lbw in the next over by Lahiru Kumara but he reviewed and it appeared the ball had hit him outside the goal line. He also lost the first session to Vishwa Fernando by 33 points to Angelo Mathews, who missed a chance to his left when he missed.

Although conditions had improved, Bavuma and Stubbs’ batting throughout the first session was nevertheless outstanding considering 19 wickets had fallen the previous day. Both were cautious from the start as Kumara was beaten by the batters and Jayasuriya flew away with the ball in search of an early dismissal.

Stubbs was generally stronger on the ground, while Bavuma was more adept at hitting square, often using his legs to hit the spinner and occasionally playing a hard, flat shot in addition to a graceful drive past the keeper. Aside from that one chance from Stubbs, both batters appeared to be mostly in control, although there were occasional lbw calls – neither of which were particularly close.

In the final session, South Africa’s pace was rampant again and Sri Lanka’s batters continued to be undisciplined even as the lights faded and the opposition was still hot. Sri Lanka also managed to burn all three of their reviews, with Pathum Nissanka and Angelo Matthews looking at lbw decisions that were more or less correct, before Kamindu Mendis reviewed after giving the edge to the wicket.

When confirmed, it was Kamindu’s first double failure in his nine Tests, falling for 13 in the first innings and 10 in this one.