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26.07.2014 Sports News

Sri Lanka spinner Perera punishes ponderous South Africa on day three

By Allsports.com.gh
Sri Lanka spinner Perera punishes ponderous South Africa on day three
26.07.2014 LISTEN

After starting the day over 300 runs behind on 98-3, South Africa wilted under the pressure of the Sri Lanka bowling attack as they were dismissed for 282 in response to the hosts' first-innings total of 421.

Sri Lanka ended the day on 11-0 from five overs, 150 runs ahead as they bid to level the two-match series with victory in Colombo.

And it was Perera who did most of the damage with the ball, the spinner finishing with figures of 5-69, while Rangana Herath also contributed significantly by taking four wickets for 71 runs.

The one positive from the tourists came from new captain Amla, who led from the front to record the 22nd Test-match hundred of his career, finishing on 139 not out after more than eight hours at the crease.

Amla had started the day on 46, having been dropped on 10 on Friday, and passed his half-century in the fourth over of Saturday's action.

It was a strong start from Amla and AB de Villiers (37), who put on an impressive fourth-wicket stand of 79.

However, that partnership was ended when the latter was trapped lbw by Perera, and that dismissal prompted a flurry of wickets, with Quinton de Kock following De Villiers back to the pavilion after failing to score off two balls.

South Africa need only a draw to regain their number one Test ranking, but they perhaps paid for an overly defensive approach, which was encapsulated by the innings of JP Duminy.

Duminy faced 58 balls in his innings, but scored just three runs before being removed by Herath.

Amla was then dropped at short cover when on 93 and took advantage of that let-off to earn his reward for a patient and composed innings.

But the skipper found little in the way of support and, although he was able to help his side avoid the follow-on, Amla could only watch as Perera and Herath ripped through the lower order.

Sri Lanka avoided losing any early wickets in the final stages of day three, and will now attempt to set South Africa an imposing total in their quest for victory.

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