Durban Test: Sri Lanka crushed South Africa by 208 runs

By Sohail Zafar on Thursday, 29th December 2011

Sri Lanka are celebrating Jacques Kallis' dismissal

Rangana Herath’s produced his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests as Sri Lanka eventually ended their 15-Test winning dearth by crushing South Africa by 208 runs in the second Test at Durban on Thursday.

The 33-year-old left-arm spinner recorded the meritorious bowling figures of 5 for 79 as Sri Lanka skittled away South Africa for 241 in their second innings, after setting a whopping 450-run victory target. Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando completed figures of two for 39.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 279 in their second innings with Dale Steyn claiming figures of 5-73.

It was a spectacular retaliate by the tourists, who were hammered by an innings and 84 runs in the first Test, and they now go to the third Test commencing at Sahara Park Newlands on Tuesday.

The Proteas has now lost four straight Tests at Kingsmead, after loses to Australia, England and India since March 2009.

South Africa VS Sri Lanka: Only De Villiers, Steyn offered resistance

Around the tumbling wickets, only AB de Villiers (69) and Dale Steyn (43) could offer resistance with a frustrating 99-run seventh-wicket stand.
Herath eliminated Steyn and Marchant de Lange for duck in the first three balls of final over to wrap up the game.

Steyn, who managed seven boundaries in his striving 125-ball knock, snared leg-before in the attempt of a slog-sweep before Lange saw his stumps nettled one ball later.

Herath was also liable for snaring de Villiers and Mark Boucher leg-before (7) in his successive overs before claiming Jacques Kallis (naught) caught by Tharanga Paranavitana shortly in the post-lunch session.

Dilhara Fernando, who earlier had edged skipper Graeme Smith (26) to Mahela Jayawardene in slips, claimed Ashwell Prince snapped by Paranavitana to leave South Africa in tortes.

South Africa VS Sri Lanka: Herath collected Man-of-the-Match Award

Under the catastrophic circumstances, Hashim Amla (51) scored an enterprising half-century striking seven fours but unluckily lost wicket soon after in the attempt of running for an inexistent single.

Earlier, the tourists resumed the innings on 256-7 and added a further 23 runs. Herath, who finished with total figures of 9-128, collected the man-of-the-match award.

Sri Lanka VS South Africa 2nd Test Scorecard