The first day of the Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka was affected by rain, but it was Sri Lanka's bowlers who came out on top. Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara was the star of the day, taking two wickets in successive overs to put his team in a strong position. South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince praised the Sri Lankan bowling attack, while their own bowling coach Darshana Gamage hailed Kumara's pace as his biggest asset. Sri Lanka's decision to bowl first paid off, with their bowlers exploiting the pitch and overcast conditions to put the team in a strong position.
South Africa vs Sri Lanka: Rain-Affected Day One Dominated by Sri Lankan Bowlers
The first day of the Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg was heavily impacted by rain, with only 17.1 overs bowled. However, it was Sri Lanka's bowlers who made the most of the limited opportunities, putting their team in a strong position.
Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara was the star performer for Sri Lanka, taking two wickets in successive overs. He removed Dean Elgar for a duck and Keegan Petersen for 1 in quick succession, reducing South Africa to 12/2. The wickets came at a crucial time, as the hosts had started brightly on a challenging pitch.
Sri Lanka's decision to bowl first paid off, with the overcast conditions providing plenty of assistance for the seamers. Vishwa Fernando also picked up a wicket, trapping Sarel Erwee leg before wicket for 13.
South Africa's batting coach Ashwell Prince praised the Sri Lankan bowling attack for making the most of the conditions. "They bowled really well today," Prince said. "They exploited the conditions, they got the ball to swing and seam, and they put us under pressure."
Sri Lanka's bowling coach Darshana Gamage singled out Kumara's pace as his biggest asset. "Lahiru is a very good bowler," Gamage said. "He has good pace and he can swing the ball both ways. He's a big asset to our team."
The rain returned after tea interval and no further play was possible, with Sri Lanka holding a clear advantage over South Africa.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who has the upper hand after Day 1? Sri Lanka has the upper hand after taking three wickets and conceding only 61 runs.
2. Who was the star performer for Sri Lanka? Lahiru Kumara, who took two wickets in successive overs.
3. What was South Africa's batting coach's reaction to the Sri Lankan bowling? He praised the Sri Lankan bowling attack for making the most of the conditions.
4. What was Sri Lanka's bowling coach's assessment of Kumara? He described Kumara as a very good bowler with good pace and swing.
5. What is the weather forecast for Day 2? The weather forecast for Day 2 is partly cloudy with a low chance of rain.
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