De Silva, Chandimal lead strong SL batting effort

CENTURION, South Africa: Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal put Sri Lanka in a strong position on the first day of the first Test against South Africa in Centurion on Saturday.

De Silva made 79 before retiring hurt and former captain Chandimal hit 85 as Sri Lanka reached 340 for six at the close.

De Silva suffered what appeared to be a left hip injury while running between wickets and was taken off the field on a motorised stretcher. It was not clear whether he would be able to take any further part in the match.

His injury ended a partnership of 131 with Chandimal. Together they stabilised the Sri Lankan innings after a helter-skelter start in which they lost their first three wickets for 54 runs inside 11 overs.

De Silva played some flowing strokes in hitting 11 fours and a six off 105 balls, while Chandimal played an anchor role, reaching his half-century off 116 balls in the last over before tea.

Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella (49) added another 99 runs before South Africa finally claimed a fourth wicket when Chandimal was caught at slip when he gloved a ball from all-rounder Wiaan Mulder which kicked off a length. Chandimal hit 11 fours in his 161-ball innings.

The medium-paced Mulder was South Africa’s most consistent bowler and finished the day with three wickets for 68 runs.

South Africa were fielding their most inexperienced fast bowling attack since 1993, with Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, debutant Lutho Sipamla and Mulder having just 12 caps and 35 wickets between them.

On a pitch which offered bounce and early movement, the bowlers struggled to find consistency, with Sipamla leaking 28 runs in three overs with the new ball.

Score Board

Sri Lanka won toss

Sri Lanka 1st Innings

*D. Karunaratne b Ngidi 22

K. Perera c De Kock b Mulder 16

K. Mendis c Ngidi b Nortje 12

D. Chandimal c Du Plessis b Mulder 85

D. de Silva retired hurt 79

N. Dickwella lbw b Mulder 49

D. Shanaka not out 25

W. Hasaranga b Sipamla 18

K. Rajitha not out 7

Extras (b8, lb8, nb5, w6) 27

Total (6 wickets, 85 overs) 340

Fall: 1-28 (Karunaratne), 2-54 (Mendis), 3-54 (Perera), 4-284 (Chandimal), 5-296 (Dickwella), 6-320 (Hasaranga)

Bowling: Ngidi 16-2-54-1, Sipamla 14-1-68-1 (2nb), Nortje 18-3-60-1 (2w), Mulder 18-3-68-3 (3nb), Maharaj 19-3-74-0

To bat: V. Fernando, L. Kumara

South Africa: *Q. de Kock, D. Elgar, A. Markram, H. van der Dussen, F. du Plessis, T. Bavuma, W. Mulder, K. Maharaj, A. Nortje, L. Sipamla, L. Ngidi

Umpires: Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock (RSA). TV umpire: Allahudien Paleker (RSA)