South Africa vs Sri Lanka Highlights, 1st Test, Day 4: South Africa beat Lanka by 233 runs

One of the reasons for more indifferent bounce today thus far has been the deterioration of the pitch. Compared to Days 2 and Days 3, there are a few more spots and some cracks are opening up. If the sun continues to shine as brightly, with the temperatures as high as 27 degrees Celsius, one can expect those cracks to widen even further.

Marco Jansen to Dinesh Chandimal, Digs it in short and over leg, Dinesh Chandimal ducks under. 

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, Very full, at the stumps, Kusal Mendis gets low and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, Outside off, on a length, Kusal Mendis lets it go past. 

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, Landed outside off, a touch wide, shouldered arms to.

Marco Jansen to Dinesh Chandimal, Nice drive. Fuller, outside off, Chandimal leans and drives it through the covers. Keshav Maharaj has to do all the running from cover-point but manages to get to the ball near the ropes. Three runs taken. Moves to 72, does Chandimal. The partnership is worth 32 now. Sri Lanka need another 288 runs.

Marco Jansen to Dinesh Chandimal, On a good length, outside off, coming back in, Dinesh Chandimal hops and defends it towards covers.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Flighted, on off, trying to tempt the batter to drive but Mendis is happy to block.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Slows it up and keeps it nice and full, at the stumps, Kusal Mendis leans on and pushes it out.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Full again, on off, Kusal Mendis blocks.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Flatter and fuller, on middle and off, Kusal Mendis stays deep in the crease and taps it down the deck. 

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Floated full, on off, Kusal Mendis makes a block.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Tossed up, on off, Kusal Mendis cuts it to cover. 

The camera pans on Tristan Stubbs who is seen yawning. Can happen, when you are just waiting in the field, for something to happen. Also, it might have been due to a heavy lunch.

Who will bowl from the other end? Keshav Maharaj it shall be. 16-2-51-1 so far.

Marco Jansen to Dinesh Chandimal, Goes fuller and outside off, Dinesh Chandimal looks to drive it on the full but misses. The ball goes past the outside edge.

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, Angling into middle and leg, Kusal Mendis looks to tuck it across but misses. The ball clips his thigh pad and rolls behind to fine leg for a single. Called Leg bye!

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! Nicely done! Short of a length, outside off, Kusal Mendis goes back and opens the bat face to steer it through the vacant gully region for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, On a good length, well outside off, Kusal Mendis gets closer to the line and holds his bat high up, making a leave. 

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, Full and on off, Kusal Mendis eases it out to mid off.

Marco Jansen to Kusal Mendis, Starts from around the wicket and lands it on a good length, outside off, Kusal Mendis makes a leave first up.

We’re back for the afternoon session! The umpires are out in the middle, followed by Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, ready to extend their partnership and fight for a big stand. The Proteas spread across the field and it will be Marco Jansen (16-4-45-2) to start the proceedings this session. Away we go!

... DAY 4, SESSION 2 ...

Kusal Mendis joined Chandimal, and the pair steadied the innings with a 24-run stand to see through to Lunch. With a monumental task ahead, they’ll need to continue digging in and building this partnership. The second new ball, now just 17 overs away, promises tougher challenges later in the day, making it crucial for both batters to head into that phase with confidence and momentum. The Proteas, however, will be eager to break this stand early. They will know that one wicket could expose the tail and open up one end, and they’ll be targeting exactly that as they return. The second session is scheduled to resume at 10.25 am GMT!

There were several close calls, especially off Rabada, with the ball evading both the edges narrowly and edges falling short of the fielders. After a luckless Day 3, fortune seemed to finally favour Sri Lanka. Chandimal held one end with steely resolve, while de Silva counterattacked effectively, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Both batters reached well-earned half centuries, leaving the Proteas looking increasingly frustrated to find a breakthrough. However, just as the partnership threatened, de Silva gifted his wicket to Maharaj, ending a gritty 95-run stand.

While the Proteas remain firmly in control of the game, they weren’t at their sharpest with the ball to begin the day. The decision to open with Coetzee alongside Rabada didn’t pay off for the hosts. Rabada was disciplined and probing, but Coetzee’s wayward lines released the pressure, allowing Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva to settle back in. By the time Marco Jansen was brought into the attack, the pair had weathered the tricky first half hour and found some rhythm.

SESSION SUMMARY - 32 Overs, 117 Runs and 1 Wicket! Despite losing a key wicket, this session belonged to the visitors, who displayed grit and determination right from the start of the day's play. After two difficult days where nothing seemed to go their way, they’ve finally found a foothold and something to build on.

Keshav Maharaj to Dinesh Chandimal, Very full, around middle, Dinesh Chandimal keeps it out. LUNCH ON DAY 4, SRI LANKA ARE 220/6, CHASING 516!

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Thrown up, outside off, Mendis drives it past cover for a run.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, A touch short, outside off, Kusal punches it towards cover. 

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Flatter, around middle, well defended.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Full, around middle, Kusal Mendis defends.

Keshav Maharaj to Dinesh Chandimal, Around off, pushed towards long on for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis, A bit too straight, Mendis plays that well off his hip, tucking it through square leg. Charges back for the second. Excellent running. 298 more to win now.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis, On a good length, outside off, Kusal takes his bat away from the line.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis, A bouncer, around off, Kusal Mendis ducks.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Down the leg side, Dinesh tucks it towards fine leg for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Outside off, on a length, Chandimal steers it behind point where Marco Jansen dives to his right and fields it well.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, And now, ANOTHER NO BALL! Rabada oversteps again. Around off, well defended.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Outside off, on a length, Chandimal looks to defend but the ball rears up suddenly. Pats it down the track.

Should be the last over before Lunch. At least, for Rabada.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Fuller, around off, Dinesh Chandimal looks to defend but the feet go nowhere. Gets a thick inside edge onto his pads. Oh dear. ANOTHER NO BALL. Called by the third umpire. For overstepping.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! Very well played. Short and quick outside off, Kusal Mendis quickly goes back, opens the face of his bat and guides it to the left of Gerald Coetzee at backward point.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Slower, around middle and leg, KM gets a good stride in to defend.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Quicker, outside off, holds its line, Kusal lets it go.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Around off, pushed to the off side.

Keshav Maharaj to Kusal Mendis, Around middle and leg, Kusal Mendis lunges to defend. There is a big shout for LBW from Kyle Verreynne but Maharaj is not interested. 'What's wrong?' asks Verreynne. Maharaj indicates that it was going down the leg side.

Keshav Maharaj to Dinesh Chandimal, Fuller, around middle, Dinesh Chandimal drives it towards long off for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis, And again. Another play and a miss. Fuller length, outside off, Kusal tries to keep his bat inside the line but is beaten by the late away movement. Consecutive maidens.

Kagiso Rabada to Kusal Mendis, Beauty. Similar to the previous ball and this time, Mendis plays at it. The ball lands but then moves away off the seam, to beat the outside edge.