Rex Clementine
in Durban

Sri Lanka’s former captain, Dinesh Chandimal, didn’t mince his words after his team was skittled out for a paltry 42 runs in their first innings of the Durban Test—a performance that will haunt them like a bad dream. Sri Lanka’s lowest-ever Test total came in just 13.5 overs, leaving the tourists in dire straits in their pursuit of a spot in the World Test Championship final.

Having entered the series perched at third on the table, Sri Lanka’s hopes now hang by a thread. The crushing 233-run defeat has shoved them down to fifth, and they face a Herculean task in Port Elizabeth to keep their Lord’s dream alive.

“We couldn’t believe it when we were shot out for 42,” Chandimal admitted, speaking to reporters after the humbling defeat. “Over the last few years, we’ve been consistent with the bat in Test cricket, so this was a bolt from the blue. But cricket is a funny game, and these things can happen. What’s important now is to learn from these mistakes and post a big first-innings total in Port Elizabeth.”

Despite the dark cloud of defeat, Chandimal himself was a silver lining. Pushed to the pivotal No. 3 spot, he showcased grit and resilience in the second innings, scoring a defiant 83 while occupying the crease for over five hours.

“We’re a good team, and we’ll bounce back,” Chandimal said with quiet determination. “Chasing nearly 300 in the fourth innings is never easy, but the fight we showed is something to build on.”

While the batters floundered, Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers gave the Proteas a run for their money. Lahiru Kumara, in particular, bowled with fire, troubling the South African batters with raw pace and precision.

“If you can put 300 runs on the board in South Africa in the first innings, you’re in the game,” Chandimal explained. “Our fast-bowling unit is second to none, and if we give them enough runs to play with, they’ll deliver the goods. The bowlers were fantastic in Durban, restricting South Africa to under 200, but we let them down with the bat.”

The batting collapse, Chandimal noted, was a result of panic under pressure. The players found themselves caught between two stools—unsure whether to attack or defend. With South Africa a bowler short following Wiaan Mulder’s injury, seeing off the first hour would have been the better option.

“Our first four wickets fell because we were in two minds,” Chandimal explained. “Some of us were overcautious, while others were dismissed trying to counter-attack. It was chaos. Getting bowled out in less than 14 overs was a bitter pill to swallow, but the past is the past. We need to dust ourselves off and come back stronger.”

Sri Lanka’s batters had faced similar struggles earlier this year in England but eventually found their rhythm, culminating in a historic Test win—their first in England in a decade.

“This situation isn’t new to us,” Chandimal reminded. “We had a shaky start in England but turned it around. It’s worth noting that the Durban Test was our first outing on a center wicket on this tour since we didn’t have a warm-up game. We’re mentally tough, and despite this collapse, we’ll rise from the ashes.”

For Chandimal, Durban holds a special place in his heart. It was here, as a 22-year-old, that he made his Test debut, scoring fifties in both innings and playing a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s first Test victory on South African soil.

“That was a special moment, and it feels good to be back here,” Chandimal reflected. “This time, I would’ve traded my runs for us batting out the day. It’s frustrating. Probably this is my last tour to South Africa, and I’m determined to make it count. We’ve got one more game, and I want to leave my mark.”