SL Vs SA, 1st Test: Twitter Reacts as South Africa Plummets to Ignominious Defeat

Sri Lanka was able to obliterate South Africa in the first Test match by a gargantuan margin of 278 runs at Galle. In fact, the Proteas were behind the eight ball when they got skittled out at the paltry total of 126 in the first innings.

The Lankan bowlers bundled out South Africa for just 73 in the second innings which is their lowest total after readmission.

Furthermore, the tourists didn’t help their cause as they surrendered in the second outing as well. Sri Lankan spinners were the chief destroyer in the second innings.

Sri Lanka spinners were too good for South Africa:

In fact, Dilruwan Perera scalped six wickets to put Proteas on the backfoot. Furthermore, Perera had scalped four wickets in the first innings. The veteran spinner Rangana Herath also took three wickets in the first innings.

Meanwhile, South African batsmen also played some disappointing shorts in the second innings. The visitor’s openers danced down the wicket when the chips were down.

In fact, only three South African batsmen were able to get to the double-figure mark. Simultaneously, it was a disappointing display from the South African batsmen.

Meanwhile, Dimuth Karunaratne was the chief architect of Sri Lanka’s win with the bat. The southpaw batsman carried his bat in the first innings as he scored a fine 158.

Moreover, the left-hander was able to carry his confidence in the second innings as well. Karunaratne scored a fine 60 to strengthen Sri Lanks’s lead.

On the other hand, speedster Dale Steyn was able to level with Shaun Pollock as the leading wicket-taker in the Test format for the Proteas. Consequently, Steyn now has 421 scalps under his bag in the red-ball form.

The Galle pitch assisted the spinners. Thus, the visiting batters were exposed against their Achilles Heel.

The second Test match will be held at Colombo from July 20.

Here is how Twitter reacted to South Africa’s big loss:

Sri Lanka came into the first Test with No coach, No captain, No manager, No SLC president & No cricket board & to win against the top Test team with 3 No1 Test fast bowlers was outstanding. Lakmal's captaincy impressive and Dimuth was beyond brilliant. Played SL. #SLvSA #LKA

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) July 14, 2018

Same pair of spinners opening bowling in each inngs of a Test:

H Trumble/ M Noble v Eng, Adelaide, 1902
R Ashwin/ P Ojha v Eng, Mumbai WS, 2012
Mehidy/ Shakib v Eng, Mirpur, 2016
R Herath/ Dilruwan v SA, Galle, 2018 *#SLvSA

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) July 14, 2018

If Test cricket has to survive and thrive, people needs to get better at playing in different conditions.
The attitude of some of the captains and fans of teams I see is like, "okay they dished out a turner, let them come over there we will show them the real green mambas"#SLvSA

— Akki (@CrickPotato) July 14, 2018

South Africa currently 72-9 – Herath & Perera may become the first pair of spinners to bowl unchanged throughout a Test innings since Jack Saunders & Monty Noble for Australia v England at Sydney in February 1902#SLvSA

— Arthur_S (@allanholloway) July 14, 2018

Maybe @ABdeVilliers17 retired so he won’t have to eat his own words against this off-season team.. ? #SLvSA #lka #GalleTest

— Aaron Varun (@Aa7RAY) July 14, 2018

https://twitter.com/layanmoyura61/status/1018055674574528513

Off season cricket or school cricket?? @ABdeVilliers17
Dismal "off season" performance by @OfficialCSA even with their best possible XI #SLvSA

— Malan Evans (@ME_2991) July 14, 2018

South Africa working towards getting Sunday off so they can cheer Kevin Anderson on in the final #SLvSA #Wimbledon

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) July 14, 2018

South Africa also lost A wonderful Subcontinent player. You'll be missed.@ABdeVilliers17.

Hope Boys will recover well in next Test.#ProteaFire #SLvSA

— sudhanshu' (@whoshud) July 14, 2018

New Low for SouthAfrican Cricket. Scars will haunt for a long time!
They would love the 2nd Test to be over ASAP..#SLvSA

— Chandler Bing (@SarcasmChamp) July 14, 2018

1st Srilanka Vs South Africa #OffSeason test

Dimuth Karunaratne 218/1

South Africa 199/20

Dimuth Karunaratne Won by 19 Runs#SLvSA @ABdeVilliers17 @IamDimuth pic.twitter.com/ToRrw2Rvb6

— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) July 14, 2018