It was Sri Lanka who won the toss in Durban and, opting to bowl first, they soon had South Africa deep in trouble, with Vishwa Fernando having Dean Elgar caught behind in the second over before a run had been scored. Then Hashim Amla was caught by Kusal Mendis off the bowling of Suranga Lakmal, and Fernando bowled Aiden Markram to reduce the hosts to 17 – 3.
Faf du Plessis and Temba Bavuma led the recovery with a stand of 72, before du Plessis fell to a catch behind for 35, Kasun Rajitha the bowler this time. And, five overs later, it was Temba’s turn to go, run out by Fernando for 47. Vernon Philander then became the sixth South African wicket to fall when he was caught and bowled by Rajitha.
However, Quinton de Kock and spinner Keshav Maharaj put on 57 for the seventh wicket, with Maharaj contributing 29 before he was caught behind with Fernando again the bowler. He then struck to claim his fourth wicket, having Rabada caught by his namesake Oshada, before another stand between de Kock and Dale Steyn took South Africa past the 200-mark. Steyn was finally bowled by Lasith Embuldeniya for 15, before de Kock became the last South African wicket to fall, caught off the bowling of Rajitha for 80, which included a six and 8 fours. In the end South Africa were bowled out for 235 in less than 60 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost opener Lahiru Thirimanne, caught behind off the bowling of Steyn, but captain Dimuth Karunatne and Oshada Fernando saw them through to the close of play with no further loss of wickets. They closed the day on 49/1, trailing the hosts by 186 runs with nine first-innings wickets still standing. The day had belonged to the tourists, something that has not been said often enough about Sri Lanka away from home in recent years.
Unfortunately, much of that good work was squandered on the second morning. The rot started when Fernando was lbw to Steyn for 19, and then the same fate befell Karunaratne, without any further addition to the score, Vernon Philander this time the bowler. Kusal Mendis fell to Philander for 12, and when Niroshan Dickwella was caught by Steyn off Duanne Olivier, the visitors had slumped to 90 – 5.
Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva added 43 for the sixth wicket, but then de Silva was caught by Olivier off Kagiso Rabada, and Lakmal fell to Steyn, before Perera gave Steyn a 4th wicket, out top scoring with 51, having struck a six and 7 fours. Rajitha and Embuldeniya resisted for 11 overs, putting on 32, before Rajitha was run out, with Embuldeniya the last man to fall, caught by Steyn off Rabada for 24, as the visitors were bowled out for 191., giving South Africa a first innings lead of 44.
Steyn was the best of the South African bowlers with 4 for 48.
In reply South Africa made a better start, with Elgar and Markram sharing a stand of 36 for the first wicket before Markram was caught by Mendis off Rajitha for 28. Amla and Elgar then put on 34 before Amla fell to the bowling of Fernando for 16, and then Bavuma joined him back in the pavilion after he was lbw to Embuldeniya. Elgar was next to fall, caught and bowled by Embuldeniya for 35, but du Plessis and de Kock saw their side safely through to stumps, as South Africa closed on 126 – 4, leading by 170 runs with 6 second innings wickets standing.
Resuming on the 4th morning, the pair added 65 to the overnight score before de Kock was lbw to Embuldeniya for 55. Captain du Plessis then put on 60 for the sixth wicket with Philander until the pace bowler was bowled by Embuldeniya for 18. Three overs later it was the turn of du Plessis to fall, lbw to Vishwa Fernando for 90, which featured 11 fours. The last three wickets fell for the addition of just 3 runs, with Fernando picking up Maharaj and Steyn, and Embuldeniya Rabada. South Africa were eventually bowled out for 259, with Embuldeniya claiming 5 for 66, and Fernando 4 for 71.
That left Sri Lanka needing 304 to win.
Beginning their second innings, the Sri Lankan opening partnership of Karunaratne and Thirimanne put on 42 for the first wicket before two men fell in the space of 5 balls. First to go was Thirimanne, caught by du Plessis off the bowling of Rabada for 21, followed by his partner, lbw to Philander for 20. Mendis was caught behind off Olivier without scoring, but Oshada Ferna ndo and Perera saw this side through to stumps at 83 – 3, still needing 221 to win the match.
The pair added 27 to the overnight score on the 4th morning, but then two wickets fell in three balls to the bowling of Steyn, with Fernando caught by du Plessis for 37, and then Dickwella giving the bowler a caught and bowled chance. However, genuine doubt was sown in South African minds when Perera and de Silva shared a stand of 96 for the sixth wicket that brought the required target under a hundred, before de Silva was lbw to the spinner Kashav Maharaj for 48, who then struck with his very next ball to have Lakmal caught by du Plessis for a first-ball duck.
Next to fall was Embuldeniya caught by Markram off Olivier as Sri Lanka resistance began to crumble. Rajitha was lbw to Maharaj, giving the spinner a third wicket, as Perera found himself running out of partners. At that stage, few would have given the visitors much chance. But a brilliant unbeaten stand of 78 for the last wicket saw them steal a highly improbable win.
The undoubted hero was Perera, who reached his second test century, and, then, deciding he had nothing to lose, launched a fierce attack on the South African bowlers. He was ably supported by Vishwa Fernando who, although he only scored six, kept his partner company for nearly 16 overs. Perera fittingly scored the winning blow as he finished on 153 not out, which included 5 sixes and 12 fours, helping his side to only their second test victory in South Africa.
To nobody’s surprise, his brilliant effort earned him the man of the match award.