GQEBERHA: Spinner Keshav Maharaj took five wickets as South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 109 runs on the final day of the second Test at St George’s Park on Monday and a 2-0 series win.
Maharaj finished with figures of 5-76 as South Africa took 70 minutes to dismiss Sri Lanka for 238.
The game was set for a thrilling finish as both teams needed a win to keep them in contention for a place in the World Test Championship final next June.
Sri Lanka retook the score at 205-5, needing 143 for victory and the home team needed five wickets, but this proved to be an anti-climax as the hosts ran through the batting line-up to add to their 233-run victory in the first test in Durban.
It took South Africa seven overs to advance on Monday, ending a 97-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Kusal Mendes caught by Aiden Markram off Maharaj.
It was a clear catch for Markram and was only released after a check by the television referee to see if it was made cleanly.
Mendes made 46 and was followed soon after by captain Dhananajaya de Silva, who got a good edge off a quick delivery from Kagiso Rabada to depart for 50.
This left the tail exposed and South Africa wasted no time with Maharaj grabbing the wickets of Prabath Jayasuriya, caught at extra cover by Temba Bavuma, and Vishwa Fernando, who rose to the sky to be caught by Marco Jansen.
Jansen took the last wicket of Lahiru Kumara to ensure South Africa moved to the top of the WTC standings.
