In a disastrous batting performance, the Sri Lankan cricket team collapsed to an all-time low of 42 runs on day two of the opening Test against South Africa. Proteas bowler Marco Jensen was the standout performer, bagging career-best figures of 7/13 to give his team a 149-run lead. With Sri Lanka in danger of losing their first-ever Test in Durban, the match holds even greater significance as both teams compete for a spot in the World Test Championship final.
Marco Jansen's Career-Best Performance Leads South Africa to Historic Victory
On the second day of the opening Test match against South Africa, the Sri Lankan cricket team experienced a batting collapse, resulting in an all-time low of 42 runs. Proteas bowler Marco Jensen emerged as the star performer, claiming career-best figures of 7/13. The victory gave South Africa a 149-run lead and put Sri Lanka in danger of losing their first-ever Test in Durban.
Background
Marco Jansen is a 21-year-old left-arm fast bowler who made his Test debut for South Africa in 2021. He quickly established himself as a reliable wicket-taker, consistently troubling opposition batsmen with his pace and accuracy.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has a rich cricketing history but has struggled in recent years. They entered the Test series against South Africa as underdogs, hoping to pull off an upset.
The Collapse
On the second day of the match, Sri Lanka resumed their innings at 30/1. However, they lost wickets in quick succession, as Jansen rampaged through their batting lineup. Only two batsmen, Dhananjaya de Silva (18) and Niroshan Dickwella (16), managed to reach double figures.
Jansen's performance was particularly impressive considering the conditions. The pitch at Kingsmead, Durban, is typically batsman-friendly, but Jansen's ability to generate pace and movement made it difficult for the Sri Lankan batsmen to score.
Significance
The victory is a significant achievement for South Africa as it puts them in a strong position to win the match and take the lead in the series. It also gives them valuable points in the World Test Championship standings, where they are currently ranked second.
For Sri Lanka, the defeat is a major setback. They have never lost a Test in Durban and will need to perform a remarkable turnaround to avoid a series loss.
Top 5 FAQs
1. How many wickets did Marco Jansen take in the match? A. 7
2. What was Jansen's previous career-best performance? A. 5/35
3. What is Sri Lanka's all-time lowest Test score? A. 42 runs
4. When was Sri Lanka's last Test win in South Africa? A. 2019
5. Which team is currently ranked first in the World Test Championship standings? A. India
In a thrilling match at the Kotambi Stadium, Rajasthan's opener Abhijeet Tomar's brilliant century and a five-wicket haul from Tamil Nadu's Varun Chakaravarthy made for an exciting game. Tomar's partnership with skipper Mahipal Lomror set the foundation for Rajasthan's first-ever victory over Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. They will now face Vidarbha in the quarterfinals on Sunday. Additionally, Haryana dominated Bengal with all-round performances from Parth Vats and Nishant Sandhu, securing a 72-run win.
In a thrilling match in the 2024-25 Saudi Pro League, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane led Al Nassr to a 3-1 victory over Al Okhdoud at the Awwal Park in Riyadh. The two star players each scored a goal, with Mane scoring a brace and Ronaldo scoring his first goal of 2025. The win propelled Al Nassr to third place in the league table with 28 points from 14 matches. Don't miss out on the excitement, subscribe now to catch all the action.
Real Madrid secured their spot in the Supercopa final after a thrilling match against Mallorca. They will now face off against their arch-rivals Barcelona in a highly anticipated final in Jeddah. Stay tuned for updates and post-match reactions.
In a thrilling match between Real Madrid and Valencia, Vinicius Junior's red card became the main talking point. After pushing Valencia's goalkeeper and receiving a straight red, the Brazilian forward's hopes of celebrating a victory seemed dashed. However, thanks to late goals from Luka Modric and Jude Bellingham, Madrid secured a 2-1 win. Vinicius later took to social media to apologize to his teammates, while manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that the club will appeal the red card. According to MARCA, the Spanish Football Federation is considering a two-game ban for Vinicius instead of the customary four-match suspension for violent conduct, as they acknowledge that he was provoked by the opposing player.
In a recent conversation with The Athletic, Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo opened up about an old compliment he received from Lionel Messi. The Argentinian superstar had labeled Maffeo as the "toughest defender he's faced" after a game in 2017. The 20-year-old defender sees this as a trophy and is now set to face off against another superstar, Vinicius Junior, in the upcoming Supercopa de Espana. This will be the 11th time that the two players will face each other, with a record of four wins each so far. Interestingly, Messi has never scored against Maffeo in their previous encounters.
After a disappointing loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool are reportedly eyeing Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should the current Reds player depart for Real Madrid. With Kimmich having excelled as a defensive midfielder and even taking on the captain's armband, Liverpool are keeping a close eye on the situation and may make a move in the upcoming January transfer window.
In a recent interview, FC Barcelona star Lamine Yamal expressed his excitement for the Spanish Super Cup final after scoring a crucial goal in the semifinals against Athletic Club. The 17-year-old had just returned from an ankle injury and was instrumental in securing his team's spot in the final. He also shared his happiness in seeing teammates Dani Olmo and Pau Victor being cleared to play and hopes they will join him in the final against either Real Madrid or RCD Mallorca.
In a thrilling semifinal match against Athletic Club, Barcelona secures its place in the Spanish Super Cup finals. A long pass from Raphinha leads to a chance for Athletic to score, but a timely intervention from goalkeeper Simon denies them. Subscribers of Sportstar can catch the highlights of the intense match at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Despite Barcelona missing key player Dani Olmo, whose playing license was revoked, young talents Gavi and Yamal stepped up to secure a 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Cup semifinals. Olmo was temporarily cleared to play, but unfortunately not in time for the game. Barca's opponent in the final will be determined in the match between Real Madrid and Mallorca, with the outcome being held in Saudi Arabia. Barca coach Hansi Flick expressed his joy over the decision to allow Olmo and Pau Victor to play again, and the players were also thrilled to contribute to the win and reach the final.
Following reports of a possible move for Osimhen, it seems Liverpool is also keeping an eye on youth international Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and facing a potential setback in their pursuit of Alphonso Davies. Meanwhile, there are rumors of a possible takeover by Elon Musk. On the field, Liverpool lost their second match of the season to Tottenham Hotspur in a League Cup semi-final, with an injury to Rodrigo Bentancur overshadowing the game. In other transfer news, Loris Karius may finally sign for a new club after leaving Newcastle United, with Schalke reportedly interested in him as a replacement.