South Africa hang on for tense draw

Jul 28, 2014

An enthralling fifth day at the SSC began with South Africa needing a draw to move to No.1, and Sri Lanka needing nine wickets to protect a formidable home record. Persistent rain, however, kept the ground staff busy and frustrated the hosts •AFP

Quinton de Kock helped South Africa's cause by batting sensibly for a patient 37, but Rangana Herath eventually lured him out and the batsman gloved to backward short leg•AFP

Faf du Plessis was given out lbw the very next delivery, but was saved by a review, as South Africa went into tea at 104 for 4•AFP

JP Duminy stonewalled his way to a 65-ball 3, but Perera eventually trapped him leg before from around the wicket. This time, even a review could not save the visitors•AFP

The result meant that South Africa reclaimed the No.1 ranking in Tests•AFP

Sri Lanka, nonetheless, managed an early breakthrough, as Dean Elgar was bowled by Dilruwan Perera•AFP

Hashim Amla hit two early fours, and then followed it up with 57 consecutive dot balls. He was however handed a reprieve when Angelo Mathews dropped him during the 49th over•AFP

Perera accounted for the big fish soon after the players returned, as Amla was caught at slip, sending the hosts into delirium•AFP

Dale Steyn hung around for 28 deliveries before feathering a tossed-up delivery behind•AFP

Amla and AB de Villiers kept Sri Lanka at bay for almost 25 overs before Herath produced a ripper to claim de Villiers' off stump•AFP

Du Plessis edged Herath to Mahela Jayawardene at slips for the spinner's fourth scalp of the innings, and Sri Lanka were four wickets away from a famous victory•AFP

It was Herath's fifth wicket of the innings, and even though he and Perera continued to hound South Africa with relentless spin, the visitors survived the final nine overs of the day to complete a tense draw•AFP