Keshav Maharaj took three wickets to reduce Sri Lanka to 168-3 at tea on day one of the first Test in Colombo.
The Proteas’ team selection was the biggest talking point during the first session. The decision to drop Tabraiz Shamsi was a puzzling one, as the Proteas opted for three seamers and one spinner on a turning Colombo wicket. This seemed to be a lack of judgement from the visitors’ management team.
Sri Lanka’s opening pair Danushka Gunathilaka and Dimuth Karunaratne proved this and racked up 93-0 by lunch.
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The opening pair continued to frustrate the Proteas bowlers and reached their 100-run partnership shortly after the break. This was Sri Lanka’s first century opening stand since October 2016. Both Gunathilaka and Karunaratne brought up their half-centuries shortly after.
The visitors refused to give up, however, as Maharaj brought the Proteas back into the match, dismissing both openers. Karunaratne (53) was the first to go. He feathered a delivery that pitched outside leg for an excellent gather from Quinton de Kock who shifted to his right.
Maharaj struck again shortly after inviting Gunathilaka for the slog-sweep and he connected it cleanly only to find a diving Kagiso Rabada. Rabada sprinted in from deep square-leg and took a blinding two-handed catch to dismiss Gunathilaka for 57.
Du Plessis continued to rotate his fast-bowlers in quick sessions from the one end, while Maharaj held up the other end.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis came to the wicket with an attacking mindset and the Proteas capitalised. They managed to pass the 150-run mark but Maharaj lured Mendis out for a sweep. This time Rabada ran in from backward-square and took a simple catch at midwicket.
Sri Lanka ended the session with De Silva (19) and Angelo Mathews (10) at the crease. Mathews became the ninth Sri Lankan to 5 000 Test runs towards the end of the second session, as Sri Lanka posted 168-3.
Sri Lanka (first innings) 168-3 – Danushka Gunathilaka 57, Dimuth Karunaratne 53, Keshav Maharaj 3-64.
Photo: Isuru Sameera Peiris/AFP/Gallo Images
