SL vs SA 2018, 2nd Test: South Africa Seek Redemption to Level Series against Sri Lanka

South Africa will be optimistic to draw the series, as they are set to lock horns against Sri Lanka for the second Test at Colombo on Friday (July 20). However, the hosts had won the first game convincingly by 278 runs.

It will be a real test of patience, forbearance, tolerance and likewise things for South Africa in the second game.

Spin, a concern for South Africa

So far, spin has been a concern for South Africa. In the first Test, they got exposed as Sri Lanka spinners managed to take seventeen of the twenty wickets.

On most of the occasions, it was the mistakes of South African players that castled them.

When it comes to sub-continent pitches in particular, it is all about your temperament and how well you will respond to the thrown challenges. South African think-tanks need to address this very issue to the players before the series goes out of their hand.

No doubt, the retirement of AB de Villiers created a wide gap in South African middle-order, and it is difficult to fill his boots. However, it is not impossible for someone to come and take the challenges from the knot and get on with it.

With the likes of Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis, South Africa should not worry. They need to get the basics right and make sure they are not repeating the same mistakes.

From the Bowling perspective

From the bowling perspective, with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, the visitors can kneel down any batsman at any day. From the spin point of view, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi need to help each other to rattle the Sri Lankan batsman.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka will be eyeing to make it 2-0. From the psychological point of view, they are on the verge to do so. It was not all about between South Africa and spinners. Sri Lankan speedster, Suranga Lakmal took three wickets in just 4.3 overs. South Africa lost first match by 278 runs.

What they said:

“Sri Lanka are really good in their conditions, they showed that when they beat Australia here as well. There is everything to play for, South Africans are known to bounce back when we do lose our first match. The boys have worked hard, we are ready to give Sri Lanka a go in their conditions. We have come here as underdogs,” Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s spinner.

Sri Lankan Probable XI: Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Dilruwan Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal(c), Lakshan Sandakan

South Africa Probable XI: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (w),Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Shaun von Berg