--- title: "Marvellous Marco bowls Proteas to ascendency over Sri Lanka and into the history books" description: "South Africa 191 (Bavuma 70, Maharaj 24, Asitha 3-44) and 132 for 3 (Markram 47, Bavuma 24*, Jayasuriya 2-48) lead Sri Lanka 42 (Kamindu 13, Jansen 7-13, Coetzee 2-18) by 281 runs." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "CRICKET" author: "Keanan Hemmonsbey" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/keanan-hemmonsbey/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-28-marvellous-marco-bowls-proteas-to-ascendency-over-sri-lanka-and-into-the-history-books/" published: "2024-11-28T22:39:09" updated: "2024-11-28T22:39:11" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 774 --- # Marvellous Marco bowls Proteas to ascendency over Sri Lanka and into the history books > South Africa 191 (Bavuma 70, Maharaj 24, Asitha 3-44) and 132 for 3 (Markram 47, Bavuma 24*, Jayasuriya 2-48) lead Sri Lanka 42 (Kamindu 13, Jansen 7-13, Coetzee 2-18) by 281 runs. By Keanan Hemmonsbey · Published 29 November 2024, 00:39 SAST · Updated 29 November 2024, 00:39 SAST ## Key points - In a stunning display of bowling artistry, Marco Jansen's career-best seven-wicket haul sent Sri Lanka crashing to their lowest-ever Test score of 42, proving that sometimes, it's not just the pitch that’s flat—it's the batting too. - Marco Jansen's career-best seven-wicket haul dismantled Sri Lanka for a historic low of 42 runs in just 13.5 overs, the shortest innings in Test cricket in a century. - Jansen showcased exceptional swing and seam, with his standout delivery uprooting Dinesh Chandimal's off-stump, while Sri Lankan batters faltered with poor shot selections. - Temba Bavuma anchored South Africa's innings with a solid 70, helping the team recover to 191 after a shaky start, marking his 22nd Test half-century. - As day two concluded, South Africa stood at 132 for three in their second innings, poised to capitalize on their dominant position and push for a 1-0 series lead. ## Content A career best seven-wicket haul by Marco Jansen helped South Africa bowl Sri Lanka out for their lowest-ever Test score of 42. The subcontinent side were bowled out in only 13.5 overs. The 83-ball innings is the shortest in the last 1oo years of Test cricket history. It was an exhibition of swing, seam and bounce by the lanky all-rounder as he exposed the batting techniques of the Sri Lankans that saw the lowest-ever Test total at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban. The best of Jansen’s seven wickets was a sharp inswing which pitched on off-stump on a good length and instead of carrying on with the arm, came back to send Dinesh Chandimal’s off-stump flying, beating him between bat and pad. While Jansen released a few unplayable deliveries, the Lankan batters were their own worst enemies on occasion. Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka’s most experienced batter, for example, essentially guided a short ball straight to David Bedingham at slip. It was a demolition after lunch as Sri Lanka’s batting innings barely lasted an hour. Pace ace Kagiso Rabada opened the wicket-taking session, claiming opener Pathum Nissanka, caught by Tristan Stubbs at slip. Gerald Coetzee also got in on the act, claiming two wickets for 18 runs, including the big scalp of Kamindu Mendis for 13 off 20. Mendis looked the most comfortable of the Sri Lankan batters, striking three neat boundaries, and was the only one of the top eight batters to reach double digits but one drive too many saw his demise. “This morning when we saw the sun’s out we thought the movement’s going to be a lot less \[than yesterday\],” Jansen said after the day’s play. “We bowled really well in terms of our intensity and our energy with the ball because we realised that the ball was moving nice and quickly off the pitch which is always what we want as bowlers. “We saw that if we put the ball in the right areas, with the ball nipping, we were always in the game.” #### **Picking it up** ![Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma reached his 22nd half-century in Test cricket, during the second day of the first Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on 28 November 2024. (Photo: Darren Stewart / Gallo Images)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/zwTS8nlcH0ktM5f-1Yvb5ZEpDK4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TL_2305678.jpg) *Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma reached his 22nd half-century in Test cricket, during the second day of the first Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on 28 November 2024. (Photo: Darren Stewart / Gallo Images)* After being on top after day one, day two went as poorly as it could have gone for Sri Lanka. Before their batters were run through by Jansen, Sri Lanka had a tough morning with the ball. South Africa started the day on 80 for the loss of four wickets and they quickly fell to 117 for seven with Kyle Verreynne (nine off 22), Jansen (13 off 21) and Gerald Coetzee (one off eight) falling cheaply. But skipper Temba Bavuma (70 off 117) held the innings together with the tail. Keshav Maharaj (24 off 35) and Kagiso Rabada (15 off 23) played their part with the willow to help the team reach 191 before the last wicket fell. Bavuma’s brilliant knock was his 22nd half-century in the format. He picked up his scoring rate when batting with the tail, striking a total of nine fours and one six in his innings, but the attacking intent led to his downfall too as he skyed an Asitha Fernando delivery. #### **Batting again** The short Sri Lankan innings saw the Proteas batting for the second time in the day. The wicket looked to have flattened as Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram moved to 28 for no loss at tea. De Zorzi, though, tried to slog sweep Prabath Jayasuriya but found the only man out, at deep square leg and lost his wicket for 17 off 32 deliveries, South Africa losing their first wicket on 47. Markram on the other end, played fluently, caressing boundaries all around the ground, on the front foot and the back. But a full Vishwa Fernando delivery from around the wicket jagged back enough to see his stumps disturbed for 47 off 81 balls. Wiaan Mulder, who fractured his right middle finger after being hit there while batting earlier in the day, strode in at No 3. He looked uncomfortable throughout his stay at the crease and was trapped LBW by Jayasuriya. Stubbs (17 off 51) and Bavuma (24 off 45) were unbothered at the wicket at the close of play on day two with South Africa on 132 for three. The pair have an opportunity to go big with the bat tomorrow. The Proteas have more than a full day to bat and two more days after that to bowl Sri Lanka out and seal a 1-0 series lead. **DM**