Sri Lanka declared with a lead of 489 before tea on day three of the second Test in Colombo.
After taking their lead to 451 at lunch on day three in Colombo, Sri Lanka maintained their dominance in the second session.
It was the building of partnerships that drowned the Proteas coupled with their inability to take quick wickets. After a 63-run partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne (61) and Mathews was ended by Lungi Ngidi before lunch, Sri Lanka continued to drain the Proteas through Mathews and Roshen Silva.
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The pair provided their side’s third 50-plus partnership of the innings and strung together 64 runs before Mathews was dismissed on 71. Mathews nudged a stock Maharaj delivery to Faf du Plessis at first slip who lunged to his right and held on to the catch.
Maharaj was the Proteas’ top performer, he finished with 12 wickets having taken 9-129 and 3-154.
Sri Lanka declared with a lead of 489 leaving the Proteas with a session and a half to get a solid start to their 490-run chase.
Sri Lanka (second innings) 275-5d – Dimuth Karunaratne 85, Danushka Gunathilaka 61, Angelo Mathews 71, Keshav Maharaj 3-154, Lungi Ngidi 1-9
Sri Lanka lead by 489
Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo
