Proteas v Sri Lanka Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka plays a shot from the delivery of South Africa's Dane Paterson during the second day of the second Test match at St Georges Park in Gqeberha on Friday. Photo: Marco Longari/AFP
Image: Photo: Marco Longari/AFP
Sri Lanka will be pleased with their efforts after they toiled with the bat after lunch on day two of their second Test against the Proteas at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
Pathum Nissanka was on 41 when tea was called, while Dinesh Chandimal was on 29 from 55 balls in what was a patient knock by the two.
After South Africa had reached a solid 358 all out, they came out for the Sri Lanka innings hoping for a repeat of the first Test, where they dominated their opponents from the first ball.
However, it was not to be as Sri Lanka showed a lot of improvement. Openers Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne shared a 41-run partnership for the first wicket before the latter was caught behind by Kyle Verreynne off the batting of Kagiso Rabada.
That was all the celebration for the home side and the next man in, Chandimal, continued to keep the scoreboard ticking alongside Nissanka.
Earlier in the day, Kyle Verreynne scored his third Test century as he helped South Africa post 358 all out. The wicketkeeper scored an unbeaten 105, and was the second South African century during the innings.
On Thursday, Ryan Rickelton (101) came in when the Proteas lost an early wicket and scored 101, his maiden Test century.
Scorecard
South Africa first innings 358 all out: Kyle Verreynne 105*, Ryan Rickelton 101, Lahiru Kumara 4/79, Asitha Fernando 3/102
Sri Lanka first innings 103/1: Pathum Nissanka 41*, Dinesh Chandimal 29*,Kagiso Rabada1/35
Sri Lanka trail by 255 runs
IOL Sport