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Jansen stars with 11 wickets after Sri Lanka’s resistance for WTC boost

Published

2 years ago

2024/11/30

Priyan

Gerald Coetzee exults having dismissed the set Dinesh Chandimal [Cricinfo]

South Africa have moved to second place on the World Test Championship [WTC] table after a 233-run victory over Sri Lanka in Durban to break the visitors’ unbeaten record at the venue. Marco Jansen finished with 11 wickets in the game with 4 for 73 in the second innings.

After setting Sri Lanka a target of 516 and taking five wickets on the third evening, South Africa may have expected play on the fourth day to be nothing more than a formality. But they were made to work for their win after half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva and 48 from Kusal Mendis made them toil until deep into the second session. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 282, an improvement on their first-innings effort by multiples.

Ultimately, they will look back at the minutes of madness, in which they were bowled out for 42, as where the match was lost. It gave South Africa a 149-run first-innings lead, the best batting conditions of the match and the cushioning to build a big lead at their own pace. They then got to work defending it.

Under blue skies and with a dry wind blowing, the pitch was placid on day four as well and Sri Lanka took advantage. Chandimal and Dhananjaya put on a sixth-wicket stand of 95 runs before Chandimal and Mendis combined for 75 against a South African attack that was without the injured Wiaan Mulder and the movement of the first three days.

Still, South Africa started threateningly when Kagiso Rabada beat Dhananjaya’s edge with the fifth ball of the morning and Gerald Coetzee found it with the 12th. The chance fell to the left of Jansen at gully. Dhananjaya responded by piercing the midwicket gap to hit Rabada for four and pulling Coetzee in front of square. Chandimal also dealt with a Coetzee short ball well and cut him for four through point.

Rabada bowled a five-over spell that cost 18 runs without success, and once he was off, Sri Lanka’s pair could settle in. Dhananjaya drove Jansen through the covers, Chandimal whacked him in the same area to bring up the 150 and they both took on Maharaj, who got almost no turn. By the first drinks break, Sri Lanka had scored 61 runs in 16 overs at a rate of just under four to the over.

Chandimal brought up his fifty immediately after the interval with an authoritative pull off Jansen and Dhananjaya reached his milestone in the next over, off 66 balls, a sign of the aggression with which he batted. He played one more shot in anger when he hit Maharaj over long-off for six. Maharaj had the last laugh, though, when Dhananjaya chipped an innocuous delivery to Tristan Stubbs at short midwicket for 59.

That brought Mendis, on the back of four ducks in South Africa, to the crease. He got his first runs in five innings with a cover drive that went for four, and also raised the Sri Lankan 200. He was nearly run out later in the over when he took off for a run without conferring with Chandimal but made it back in time.

South Africa brought back Rabada for a pre-lunch burst but a selection of short balls were well negotiated. Rabada also took his no-ball count for the innings to 10, with five in the morning session as Sri Lanka went to lunch on 220 for 6. They scored 117 runs in 32 overs in an extended first session.

The 10 overs post lunch were laced with gifts from South Africa as Sri Lanka piled on 47 runs helped by a team that could afford to try things, given the runs at their disposal. Without a gully in place, Mendis square drove Jansen for four and then took 15 runs off his 19th over, as Jansen missed his lengths completely. Maharaj was also on the receiving end of Mendis’ aggression as he moved in sight of a half-century.

Not long into his third spell, Coetzee sent down a half-volley down leg and it seemed South Africa could get nothing right either side of the pitch. His next ball was on middle and Chandimal tried to flick it away but closed the face of the bat too early and got a leading edge back to Coetzee. He let his relief out into the pitch with a series of throat-curdling screams.

In the next over, Maharaj drew Vishwa Fernando forward and had him caught at slip by Aiden Markram. Jansen was brought back and he cleaned things up when he had Mendis caught behind to take his 10th for the match and bowled Asitha Fernando as he tried to cover the line of a ball sliding down leg. Jansen’s 11 for 86 are the second best figures at Kingsmead after Clarrie Grimmett’s 13 for 173 in 1936.

Brief scores:
South Africa 191 (Temba Bavuma 70, Asitha Fernando 3-44, Lahiru Kumara 3-70, Vishwa Fernando 2-35, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-34) and 366 for 5 dec (Tristan Stubbs 122, Temba Bavuma 113; Vishwa Fernando 2-64, Prabath Jayasuriya 2-132) beat Sri Lanka 42 (Marco Jansen 7-13, Gerald Coetzee 2-18) and282 (Dinesh Chandimal 83, Dhananjaya de Silva 59, Kusal Mendis 48; Marco Jansen 4-73, Kagiso Rabada 2-65, Gerald Coetzee 2-67, Keshav Maharaj 2-67 ) by 233 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Latest News

USS Canberra makes port call in Colombo

Published

8 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The United States Navy’s USS Canberra (LCS 30) arrived at the port of Colombo for replenishment purposes on 12 Jun 26.

The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy
in compliance of naval traditions.

USS Canberra, a Littoral Combat Ship, is commanded by Commander J McLaughlin.

Business

Committee appointed for restructuring SriLankan Airlines

Published

9 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a Committee, chaired by Senior Presidential Advisor on Digital Economy Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, to conduct a strategic review and restructuring of SriLankan Airlines.

The other members of the committee are as follows:

• Senior Presidential Economic Advisor Duminda Hulangamuwa

• Financial and corporate strategy expert Deshal De Mel

• Transaction and investment banking, mergers and acquisitions expert Dumith Fernando

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Finance or his Representative

• The Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development / a representative of the Civil Aviation Authority

• The Chairman of SriLankan Airlines

• Legal experts with specialised knowledge in corporate, aviation and public law

• Aviation industry experts to be appointed

The Government has recognised the urgent priority of undertaking a comprehensive strategic review of SriLankan Airlines, taking into account the broader macroeconomic context.

The main objective of this exercise is to establish a financially sustainable and commercially efficient national carrier, while reducing the long-term fiscal burden on the Government.

Accordingly, it has been deemed appropriate to establish a dedicated committee to carry out the strategic review and restructuring process in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is serving as the Transaction Advisor.

The committee will be responsible for:

• Conducting an independent review and assessment of the airline’s strategic direction and future course of action

• Recommending restructuring requirements and possible restructuring models

• Evaluating specific strategic options and identifying the most suitable course of action aligned with the Government’s overall objectives

• Providing oversight, guidance and support for the implementation of the selected strategy and execution framework determined by the Government

The committee will function for the duration of the strategic review and restructuring process, or until it is formally dissolved by the Government of Sri Lanka.

(PMD)

Latest News

Kane Williamson retires from international cricket

Published

10 hours ago

2026/06/12

Priyan

Kane Williamson is one of only three players to score more than 15,000 international runs for New Zealand [BBC]

Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson has retired from all international cricket with immediate effect.

The 35-year-old featured in the first Test against England at Lord’s, registering a duck and 18, but will play no further part in the three-match series, which will resume at The Oval on 17 June.

Williamson retires as New Zealand’s leading all-format run-scorer, with 19,346 runs, including 48 centuries and six double-hundreds, in 378 appearances between 2010 and 2026.

As the Black Caps’ most prolific Test batter, he scored 9,515 runs at an average of 54.06, including 33 centuries, in 110 matches.

Williamson captained New Zealand on 206 occasions between 2012 and 2024, leading the side through their golden period when they won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 and reached the finals of the 2019 World Cup and 2021 T20 World Cup.

Explaining his decision, Williamson, who retired from T20Is in November, said: “I’ve thought about it for a while, but over the last few days it’s become clear now is the right time.

“I’ve always felt a strong drive and hunger for international cricket, and I take pride in knowing I’ve given it my all in every match I’ve played for New Zealand.

“Continuing with anything less wouldn’t be right and I feel fortunate to step away on my own terms.

“I leave feeling optimistic about where this group is heading. There’s a huge amount of talent, and a real desire to do something special with this New Zealand team.

“It’s a team I love, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been part of it for so long. It will continue to be dear to my heart.”

Head coach Rob Walter paid tribute to Williamson’s “legacy” and impact on the Black Caps, stating he will “remain embedded in its DNA”.

“Anyone who’s had the privilege of working with Kane understands he is a very special player and person,” Walter said.

“His numbers and batting skills speak for themselves, but it’s what he means to this Black Caps team, as well as world cricket – that will be his legacy.

“His impact on the culture and standards of this team will remain embedded in its DNA.

“Kane’s always put the team first and although we’re disappointed to see him go, we’re happy to know he’s content and at peace with his decision.

“An incredible player, awesome team-mate, a wonderful leader and a fantastic ambassador for our sport.”

Former New Zealand all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee described Williamson as a “wonderful player” and an “unflappable leader”, who was the “architect of some our of greatest moments in cricket”.

[BBC]