GALLE Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga scored an unbeaten half century in his first test innings after almost seven years out of the side but South Africa took the honours on the third morning of the first test on Friday.
Tharanga was unbeaten on 65 at lunch with Sri Lanka on 104 for three wickets in reply to South Africa’s first innings of 455-9 declared, as the hosts trailed the tourists by 351 runs at the interval.
After Sri Lanka had progressed to 98-1, a brief rain interruption was followed by the fall of the home side’s two most experienced batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara for 24 and Mahela Jayawardene for three.
Sangakkara and Tharanga had added 59 for the second wicket before the former dragged a short ball from Morne Morkel onto his stumps while attempting a pull shot just two balls after play had resumed.
Paceman Dale Steyn added to South Africa’s joy when he picked up his second wicket of the morning, trapping Jayawardene lbw off the last ball before the lunch break.
Steyn had earlier accounted for opener Kaushal Silva (eight), who was tempted into a hook shot and caught by a diving Vernon Philander at fine leg.
