GALLE (Reuters) – JP Duminy hit a sedate half-century to take South Africa past the 400-run mark by tea on the second day of the first test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
Duminy was unbeaten on 72, scored off 154 balls with seven fours, and Mornie Morkel on nine not out in South Africa’s total of 414 for eight wickets.
An eighth-wicket partnership of 75 off 180 balls between Duminy and Vernon Philander frustrated a Sri Lankan bowling attack missing one of their front-line bowlers. Philander defended for almost two hours, facing 96 balls for 27, before skipper Angelo Mathews provided Sri Lanka with the only wicket of the afternoon by trapping him lbw.
Morkel, who joined Duminy, continued to defy the Sri Lankan bowling and has so far hung around for 48 minutes.
A maiden test half-century from wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock saw South Africa move to 331-7 at lunch.
De Kock struck six fours in his innings of 51 off 90 balls before he was out to a sharply turning ball from Dilruwan Perera, which he edged to Mahela Jayawardene at slip.
Sri Lanka’s only other success of the morning, which produced a modest 63 runs, was the wicket of nightwatchman Dale Steyn, who was bowled by a full length delivery from Suranga Lakmal for three.
Sri Lanka were handicapped by the absence of paceman Shaminda Eranga, who did not take the field after having eight stitches inserted into the webbing between his right thumb and index finger after injuring the area on Wednesday.
“We are hoping that he will be able to bowl in the second innings,” Sri Lanka manager Michael de Zoysa told reporters.
