GQEBERHA: Pathum Nissanka’s 89-run knock led Sri Lanka’s fightback against South Africa on day two of the second Test here at Saint George’s Park on Friday.
At the end of the second day’s play, Sri Lanka were 242/3, trailing by 116 runs, with Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis firmly at the crease.
The touring team had a shaky start to the innings as they lost opener Dimuth Karunaratne (20) with just 41 runs on the scoreboard.
After the initial hiccup, Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal knitted an anchoring partnership of 109 runs for the second wicket, which lasted with the latter’s dismissal on 44.
Nissanka was then involved in another crucial partnership for Sri Lanka when he added 49 runs for the third wicket with Mathews.
The opening batsman, however, came to an agonizing end to his brilliant batting as he fell just 11 short of a well-deserved century.
After his dismissal, Mathews and Mendis batted sensibly to put together an unbeaten 43-run partnership to keep Sri Lanka in command.
For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson and Keshav Maharaj made a scalp each.
Earlier, the home team, after resuming their first innings of 269/7, added another 89 runs to their tally courtesy of a brilliant century from wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne.
Verreynne top-scored for South Africa with 105 off 133 deliveries, studded with 12 fours and three sixes.
He was involved in a crucial 59-run ninth-wicket partnership with Kagiso Rabada, who scored 23 off 40.
For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Kumara took four wickets, followed by Asitha Fernando with three, while Vishwa Fernando took two wickets.
