South Africa Too Far Gone

Sangakkara made 108

As if a deficit of 170 after first innings were decided was not enough, South Africa have been dominated on the third day at Kingsmead, Durban, by an aging champion. To make matters worse, they had him fourth ball of the day but two of their own conspired to flash him the get out of jail free card.

Sri Lanka had lost Dilshan, unnecessarily just before stumps on the second day and resumed in the superior position. South Africa needed a supreme effort from the feared pace attack to reduce any fourth innings to a manageable level. Morne Morkel, with an over to finish when bad light ended play early, bent a beauty past Kumar Sangakkara's searching edge first up and then shook him up with a short ball that fizzed past the bat and through to Mark Boucher. Morkel then bowled the perfect line to a left hander which he edged. Boucher moved to take the catch, perhaps blinding Graeme Smith but the net result was Smith flooring it. It was a miss that haunted South Africa all day and will no doubt stay on their minds when they eventually chase.

It was a slow morning with only 58 runs scored from twenty overs but overnight rain was a factor in reducing the session. Sri Lanka lost Paranavitana after half an hour, caught by a diving Ashwell Prince at fourth slip from Morkel. He had found a line on off stump which was worrying the left handers and he persisted until drinks. Mahela Jayawardene looked fluent but left in Marchant de Lange's third over, padding up and dismissed on review. By lunch, first innings century maker Samaraweera was looking comfortable.

It was the long second session that took any possible long shot South Africa might have had away from them, with Sangakkara fashioning two big partnerships and Sri Lanka losing only two wickets in adding 142. Sangakkara scored half of those, going to his hundred off Jacques Kallis three overs before tea, with a cover drive and push off his pads, both for four and then a square drive for two. It was batting worthy of a man who averages 55 in Test cricket. Kallis is a mystery. He has rarely looked more than a medium pacer with a good bouncer but his record is impeccable.

Sangakkara added 94 with Samaraweera before Imran Tahir slid one through him via the inside edge. Dale Steyn came back at this point in order to blow the tail away but after getting Angelo Mathews to a rubbish short ball outside off which the batsman pulled wildly at and edged to Boucher, there was a 104 run wait which spanned tea and took up most of the shortened last session. Debut wicket keeper, Dinesh Chandimal, got his second fifty of the match in the sixth wicket stand with Sangakkara.

Morkel created the chance which
could have changed the day

Smith used his bowlers evenly throughout the day but perhaps more emphasis could have been placed on Morkel, given his outstanding start to the day. His captaincy, so often touted as inventive and among the best in world cricket, has lacked strength and a personal style to lift his team. At times against Australia and Sri Lanka, he has looked insecure. Steyn is yet to deserve the fearsome reputation he established before South Africa were sent into a long hiatus by programming which kept them out of Test cricket for nearly a year. The effects are obvious, with batsmen rusty and struggling for form, established bowlers searching for rhythm and important catches being dropped.

This game should be lucky 16 for Sri Lanka, still chasing a win since Murali and Vaas left. With two days left and a lead of 426, the odds are stacked heavily in favour of Dilshan's men. The highest fourth innings victory of all time was 418 where a Sarwon and Chanderpaul inspired West Indies beat Australia at Antigua in 2003. At Kingsmead, the highest target set and achieved was by Australia in January of 1950. Trailing by 236 on the first innings after off spinner Hugh Tayfield took 7-23 and rolled them for 75 on a wet wicket, Australia's managed the 336 to win with only five wickets down, after Neil Harvey made 151 not out in playing his greatest innings for his country.

South Africa trailed by less here but doesn't have the same cattle as Lindsay Hassett did, just eighteen months after the Invincibles tour of England, nor does either side have as astute a captain.

This will go to the fifth day on a batting track that is still good but Sri Lanka are specials to square the series.