Centurion
South Africa took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series by defeating Sri Lanka, who were struggling with an injury problem, by an innings and 45 runs in the first Test cricket match here on Tuesday. Five Sri Lankan players are injured, out of which Dhananjay DeSilva did not even come out to bat in the second innings. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 180 runs in their second innings shortly after lunch on the fourth day. The match is part of the World Test Championship and thus South Africa got 60 points from the win.

Kusal Perera (64) and Wahindu Hasranga (59), playing their first Test match for Sri Lanka, batted aggressively and scored a half-century which reduced the margin of defeat. Lungi Angidi, Enrique Nortje, Vian Mulder and Lutho Cipamla took two wickets each for South Africa. Sri Lanka had started well by scoring 396 runs in their first innings, but South Africa responded with a huge score of 621 with the help of Faf du Plessis’s 199 runs to take a lead of 225 runs.

Five Sri Lankan players were injured in this match. All-rounder Dhananjay DeSilva was retired hurt after scoring 79 runs in the first innings. Fast bowler Kasun Rajitha managed only 2.1 overs. Apart from them, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Kumara and Hasranga were also injured. Sri Lanka started the day at 65 for two and lost the wickets of Dinesh Chandimal (25), Niroshan Dikwela (10) and Perera within nine overs.

After this, Dasun Shanaka (six) and Vishwa Fernando (zero) also returned to the pavilion before lunch. Vian Mulder took two of these wickets. He bowled an injured Chandimal and forced Dickwella to take a catch behind the wicket. Perera hit 10 fours in his innings. Hasranga was having trouble running and so he took long shots. Playing his first Test match, Hasranga hit his 53-ball innings with 12 fours and a six. The second Test will be played from January 3 in Johannesburg.