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

Will the umpires come under scrutiny for this game? Especially that last hour? With light fading, allowing the seamers, who can bowl at 140 clicks, to carry on was a questionable decision. The Lankan batters suffered a few blows but surprisingly, the quicks were not taken off. Maybe, because the visitors were not complaining, the umpires felt that it was okay. That could have been a telling factor as well. Who knows, if the decision had been made on not to allow the seamers to carry on, Sri Lanka might have still been 2 down. 

Sri Lanka probably would have taken 3 wickets at Stumps, but one false shot from Kamindu Mendis, followed by a scorcher by Tony de Zorzi, have left them licking their wounds. With 7 wickets in the bag, they could have looked at batting big on Saturday, but the complexion has changed now. They still can look to bat big, but their options have dwindled. Only Kusal Mendis is left amongst the recognized batters.

That's why, it is said, Test cricket is the best. Never go by what is happening in the present. You can never say when will the game change. Sri Lanka were doing okay at 82/2, but suddenly, with the conditions getting a bit overcast, the ball started to do something and they lost 3/19 in under 10 overs.

What a way to end the day. The South Africans will be cock-a-hoop, but you have got to feel for the Sri Lankans. They batted much better in this dig so far, but those last 40-45 minutes have left them crestfallen.

Gerald Coetzee to Dinesh Chandimal, Full and outside off, DC gets across and then takes his bat away from the ball. That will be it for the day. STUMPS ON DAY 3, SRI LANKA ARE 103/5, CHASING 516!

Gerald Coetzee to Dinesh Chandimal, A length ball, darts back in, Dinesh works it past Tony de Zorzi at short leg. By the time long leg can get to the ball, a couple of runs are taken.

Gerald Coetzee to Dinesh Chandimal, Another wide ball, a bit wild as well. Bounces well away, Chandimal arches away.

Gerald Coetzee to Dinesh Chandimal, A touch wider outside off, Dinesh Chandimal shoulders arms.

Gerald Coetzee to Dinesh Chandimal, Outside off, left alone.

Gerald Coetzee to Dinesh Chandimal, Full, around middle, Dinesh Chandimal pushes it towards mid on.

Will we get another over? Seems like we will. Gerald Coetzee to bowl. 4-0-37-1 so far.

Kagiso Rabada to Dhananjaya de Silva, Outside off, pushed towards point.

Who walks in now? The skipper, Dhananjaya de Silva has decided to shoulder the responsibility.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabath Jayasuriya, OUT! CAUGHT! Tony de Zorzi has pulled off a blinder at short leg! Probably the hardest position in the field to be in to take a catch but de Zorzi has pulled it off brilliantly! Excellent reflexes! Kagiso Rabada bowls it into the pads on a length and Prabath Jayasuriya flicks it right off the middle of the bat and straight over Tony de Zorzi at short leg. He rises a bit and sticks both his hands above his face and grabs onto it. Prabath Jayasuriya stands there in disbelief but that sums it up for Sri Lanka as they lose half their side for 101 runs!

Kagiso Rabada to Prabath Jayasuriya, Hits the deck hard, on a back of a length, over off, Prabath Jayasuriya keeps it out well.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabath Jayasuriya, A short ball, down the leg side, Jayasuriya gets across and tucks it through fine leg. Jayasuriya starts to run but is sent back initially. Then, when Chandimal sees the ball go past the keeper, he starts to run. But suddenly, Chandimal realizes that the job of a nightwatchman is to actually protect the set batter. Sends Jayasuriya back again. Dot ball, after all these events.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabath Jayasuriya, On a good length, around off, extra bounce, the tall Prabath Jayasuriya rises with the bounce and pushes it towards point.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabath Jayasuriya, Around off, pushed towards the off side.

Kagiso Rabada to Prabath Jayasuriya, Full and around off, Prabath Jayasuriya defends. Not for the first time in this innings, the third umpire, Joel Wilson informs the on-field umpire Paul Reiffel, that Rabada has overstepped. NO BALL NUMBER 5 FROM HIM!

Ahhh... the physio is out in the middle now. Dinesh Chandimal has taken a lot of blows in this innings but this one is for the latest blow in the 28th over, where he copped one on the left shoulder against Rabada. Chandimal is getting a bit of a treatment there, along with a bit of a massage. Pops in a couple of pills as well. Of course, that takes out a couple of minutes, which means that this next Rabada over could well be the final one for the day.

Marco Jansen to Prabath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka get to the 100-run mark! On a length, on off, Prabath Jayasuriya pushes it to cover and gets a single to get off the mark. 

Marco Jansen to Prabath Jayasuriya, Angling into the pads, on a length, Prabath Jayasuriya turns it around to short leg where Tony de Zorzi makes a sharp stop low to his right. 

Marco Jansen to Prabath Jayasuriya, Back of a length, on middle, Prabath Jayasuriya stands in the crease and looks to tuck it across but misses high onto his thigh. 

Marco Jansen to Prabath Jayasuriya, Good bounce this time. From a good length, outside off. Jayasuriya rises with the bounce and dabs it down on the off side.

Marco Jansen to Prabath Jayasuriya, On a good length this time, well defended.

Marco Jansen to Prabath Jayasuriya, Full and outside off, Prabath Jayasuriya gets across and defends it solidly.

Well, Kamindu Mendis will be very disappointed with that shot. Sometimes, what happens is, when you are brimming with confidence, you find it hard to hold back your shots. Playing shots is always a double-edged sword. If you pull it off, you are praised for being positive. But if you don't you are criticized for the same. Same is the case with Kamindu. He will have seniors around his ears, asking him the need for that shot. It was a plain waft, with no movement of his feet.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Full and outside off, Dinesh Chandimal leans onto it and looks to drive but gets an inside edge off his pads and rolling down the deck.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Fuller and at the stumps, Dinesh Chandimal clips it to mid on.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, On a length, on off, Dinesh Chandimal punches it to backward point.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Fuller, around off, Dinesh pushes this towards mid on.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, On a good length, outside off, Chandimal pushes this through the covers and sets off for a single. But then, he sees Temba Bavuma lurk around over there and immediately changes his call.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Ouch. A short ball, around off, Dinesh Chandimal looks to pull but the ball skids and bounces sharply. He takes his eyes off the ball and gets hit on the left shoulder. The ball lobs to the leg side.

Surely, a nightwatchman now? Yes. Prabath Jayasuriya has come in at number 6, replacing Kamindu Mendis. Seems like either there was some deliberation in the dressing room on who should walk out or they were simply not ready for this situation. Jayasuriya takes a long time to come out, well after Kamindu has reached the dressing room.

Marco Jansen to Kamindu Mendis, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Marco Jansen gets his second and Kamindu Mendis after looking so composed to let the balls outside off, go past has fallen right back into that trap. To make it worse, Mendis takes a review with him. This is very wide outside off, on a length, Kamindu Mendis stands tall and throws his hands at it away from his body. Gets an outside edge that goes straight into the hands of the keeper Kyle Verreynne. He talks to his partner and decides to review it. The UltraEdge shows a spike as the ball passes the bat and the onfield call of OUT stays. Sri Lanka are now 99/4 and need 417 more runs to win. While South Africa need 6 wickets! Also, Sri Lanka have now exhausted all their reviews.

Marco Jansen to Kamindu Mendis, Good length, on off, Kamindu Mendis taps it to cover.

Marco Jansen to Kamindu Mendis, On a length, just outside off, Kamindu Mendis leans ahead and makes a leave. 

Marco Jansen to Kamindu Mendis, Full and straight, Mendis defends it solidly.

Marco Jansen to Kamindu Mendis, Fuller, around off, tailing in slightly, Kamindu adjusts well and pushes it towards mid off.

Marco Jansen to Kamindu Mendis, Beaten. On a good length, just outside off, Kamindu Mendis pushes at it, but then realizes his mistake and tries to withdraw his bat. Gets late and is beaten. No need to play at those.

This is a very tricky period of play for Sri Lanka. Of course, the last half an hour of a day is important for any team, but they have got an additional challenge of facing a strong seam attack under overcast conditions. South Africa would dearly love another wicket towards the fag end of the day and if that does happen, there might just be a deceleration tomorrow morning. On the other hand, if this pair sees off this day, it can come in with some confidence on Day 4. After the quickfire start by the openers, some sanity has been restored, with Chandimal looking very compact, while Kamindu is oozing class and confidence.

Kagiso Rabada to Kamindu Mendis, Short of a length, angling into middle, Kamindu Mendis pulls it to fine leg for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Kamindu Mendis, On a good length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis pushes it to backward point.

Kagiso Rabada to Kamindu Mendis, A loud appeal for LBW by Rabada alone! Turned down! On a hard length, on off and jagging back in a fair bit to go past the inside edge and thud Mendis high on the pad.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, Good length, outside off, seaming away, Chandimal pushes it through the covers for a run.

Kagiso Rabada to Dinesh Chandimal, On a good length, outside off, nipping back in, Dinesh Chandimal nudges it towards short mid-wicket.

Kagiso Rabada to Kamindu Mendis, On a good length, around off, Kamindu Mendis nudges this through the leg side for a single. 419 more needed to win now.

We are into overtime now. Stumps are officially scheduled for 3 pm GMT, but because of the overs pending, there is that allowance of the extra 30 minutes. 12 overs are still left, so we will definitely not get those many in, but wonder, at this stage of the day, with light fading, will the umpires just decide on whether to allow pacers to bowl or not, or just take the players off for bad light. It is getting darker by the minute.

Marco Jansen to Dinesh Chandimal, Fuller than a good length, on off, Dinesh Chandimal pokes it out to point.

Marco Jansen to Dinesh Chandimal, Digs it in short and over leg. This one doesn't bounce as much and Dinesh Chandimal ducks.