Sri Lanka lose last six wickets for 35 runs as hosts close in on 2-0 series win
Innings close Sri Lanka 157 and 211 (Karunaratne 103, Ngidi 4-44) lead South Africa 302 (Elgar 127, van der Dussen 67, V Fernando 5-101) by 66 runs
Any momentum Sri Lanka had gained on day two, they squandered within the first 90 minutes of day three. They lost their last six wickets for 35 runs, as South Africa’s quicks hunted relentlessly. The hosts now need only 67 to take the series 2-0.
There had briefly been hope that Sri Lanka would set South Africa a decent target. They began the day five runs ahead, and Dimuth Karunaratne looked assured in the early overs. He started on 91, and struck consecutive fours in the third over of the day to raise his first century in South Africa, and his first outside Sri Lanka since 2017.
He had been occasionally troubled by the bounce Anrich Nortje was generating at a rapid pace, however, and it was this extra bounce that brought his downfall. Nortje pitched one just back of a length, and angled it into Karunaratne from around the wicket. The batsman attempted to swat it to the leg side, but ended up only offering a catch to square leg off the top edge.
Niroshan Dickwella had been far less secure throughout his innings and was out in the next over, a ball from Lungi Ngidi ballooning off his leading edge to cover as he attempted to work it to leg. He was out for 36, and the remaining wickets didn’t take long to follow. Dasun Shanaka spooned Wiaan Mulder to mid-on. Wanindu Hasaranga played a startlingly bad stroke against Lutho Sipamla and was bowled. Then in his next over, Sipamla claimed the two remaining wickets in the space of three balls.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf