Sri Lanka created history in Port Elizabeth to become the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa. With a comfortable 8 wickets win led by Oshado Fernando and Kusal Mendis partnership of 163 runs, they beat the hosts 2-0 after chasing down 197 comfortably.
The Sri Lankan, Kusal Janith, after playing a heroic inning in the 1st test which led Sri Lanka to win the first test. The second test was in Port Elizabeth where South Africa won the toss and opt to bat first in 21st February. Opener Adien Markram scored 60 runs off 116 balls and Quinton de Cock (Wicketkeeper of South Africa) scored a fiery inning of 86 runs in just 87 balls which helped South Africa to post 222 runs on the board. Vishwa Fernando, the hero of the first test took 3 wickets and Kasun Rajitha took 3 wickets. Sri Lanka failed to score the 1st innings score of South Africa and felt 68 runs below the score despite Niroshan Dickwella scored 42 runs off 36 balls, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada took 4 wickets and Duanne Olivier took 3 wickets.
With the lead of 68 runs of the 1st innings, South Africa was the favorite to win the test match and fear of creating history was at risk. But the master-class bowling by the Lankans, South Africa was folded to 128 runs despite a captain’s effort of 50 not out by Faf du Plessis. Suranga Lakmal took 4 wickets in his spell and rest of the bowler helped him on the way. The target was 197 runs that will make history in the books of crickets. Several better team arrived in South Africa but they failed. Sri Lanka was trashed by England in home season in 2018, 3-0. Sri Lanka was full of young talents but many believed that South Africa has a chance to win the test. A chase was started, but the scoreline got to 34-2, a real disaster on the dreams. Then a 163 partnership created a history, A DREAM TO WIN A TEST SERIES IN SOUTH AFRICA BY ASAIN TEAM.
Before the series started, nobody believed that Sri Lanka would win a test series in South Africa where the home team had won 7 series in a Trott. But the innings by Kusal Janith Perera in the 1st innings let hope and they did it. Kusal Mendis was declared Man of the Match and Kusal Janith Perera was declared Man of the Series. Vishwa Fernando was also the contender for Man of the Series but the innings of Kusal Janith Perera in 1st test was beyond the imagination. A few years ago when Sri Lanka was not performing good in the test, won the test series in a dramatic fashion and the new era began for them. Will this be the turning point for Sri Lanka to rise again in Test? Man of the Match, Kusal Mendis thanks his supporting staffs, teammates, supporters and mainly his physio who made him fit to play in this test after an injury.
With World Cup 2019 on the door, Sri Lanka must prepare a team that believes in winning the matches and creating history. Even better teams of Sri Lanka failed to win the test series in South Africa, this young team did the history in a fashion; winning 1st test by 1 wicket & 2nd test by 8 wickets. Thanks to Kusal!
