Sri Lanka stands at 205-5 in their pursuit of 348 runs against South Africa on day four of the second Test at St George’s Park. Dane Paterson and Keshav Maharaj took two wickets each for South Africa, while the Sri Lankan duo, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, has saved the innings so far with an unbeaten partnership of 83 runs and are both at 39 runs.
On the fourth day of the second Test match at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, South Africa, Sri Lanka found themselves in a precarious position, having scored 205 runs with five wickets lost in their pursuit of a target of 348 runs. Medium pacer Dane Paterson and spinner Keshav Maharaj each claimed two wickets, while fast bowler Kagiso Rabada initiated Sri Lanka’s struggle by dismissing opener Dimuth Karunaratne early in the match. Despite a challenging situation, Sri Lanka’s captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis formed a vital partnership of 83 runs, remaining not out at 39 runs each. However, the odds are still heavily leaning in favor of South Africa as they head towards the final day of play.
The ongoing second Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka has presented a compelling contest, especially considering the significance of the target set for Sri Lanka. With a need for 348 runs to win, Sri Lanka’s innings has been characterized by both resistance and collapse. Historically, the highest successful run chase at St George’s Park was 271 runs, achieved by Australia 27 years ago, which adds to the context of the current match situation.
In summary, the fourth day of the Test match emphasizes the formidable challenge that Sri Lanka faces in chasing down South Africa’s target. With their score at 205-5, the team needs a significant effort on the final day to achieve victory. The resilience shown by De Silva and Mendis suggests potential for an exciting finish, despite South Africa being in a strong position to secure a win.
Original Source: apnews.com
