Spinner Keshav Maharaj took five wickets as South Africa secured a 109-run victory over Sri Lanka on the last day of the second Test at St George’s Park and a 2-0 sweep of the series. Maharaj finished with figures of 5-76 as South Africa took 70 minutes to dismiss Sri Lanka for 238.
The game had been set up for a thrilling finale as both teams required a win to keep them in contention for a place in next June’s World Test Championship final.
Sri Lanka resumed on 205-5 needing 143 for victory and the home side required five wickets but it proved an anticlimax as the hosts ran through the batting line-up to add to their 233-run victory in the first Test in Durban.
It took South Africa seven overs to make a breakthrough on Monday, ending a 97-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Kusal Mendes caught by Aiden Markram off Maharaj. It was sharp catch for Markram and only given out after a check by the television umpire to see whether it was cleanly taken.
Mendes made 46 and was followed shortly after by captain Dhananajaya de Silva, who got a healthy edge to a quick delivery from Kagiso Rabada to depart for 50. That left the tail exposed and South Africa wasted no time with Maharaj grabbing the wickets of Prabath Jayasuriya, caught at extra cover by Temba Bavuma, and Vishwa Fernando, who slogged it up into the sky to be caught by Marco Jansen.
Jansen took the last wicket of Lahiru Kumara to ensure South Africa moved to the top of the WTC standings, after Australia briefly reclaimed their position on top of the Test championship table when they smashed India by 10 wickets in Adelaide.
The Proteas need to win just one of their remaining two Tests in this WTC cycle, both at home against Pakistan, to book their place in the final. Sri Lanka remain a mathematical chance to qualify for the final at Lord’s next year, but would have to beat Australia 2-0 in February and rely on other results falling their way.
India appeared to be tracking towards a third-straight appearance in the final before their historic 3-0 loss at home against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma’s team need to win all three remaining Border-Gavaskar Tests, which would mean an unprecedented 4-1 win in Australia, to guarantee qualification.
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If Australia regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15, they would almost certainly book their spot in the decider as they attempt to defend the title they won in 2023. But Australia could still qualify even if the series against India is drawn 2-2, with two Tests in Sri Lanka to play early next year.
