Thilan Samaraweera’s ton went in vain as South Africa recorded their first test series win at home since 2008 by beating Sri Lanka by ten wickets in Cape Town. The win was the Proteas’ first in five attempts since 2008 when they had beaten Bangladesh at home.

The 35 year old Samaraweera became the 7th Sri Lankan to score 5,000 test runs as he finished not out on 115, but after a stand with Angelo Matthews, he ran out of partners as the Lankan second innings folded up for 342.

South Africa, needing two runs to win the series, won without facing a single ball as Dhammika Prasad overstepped and Alviro Petersen knocked off the runs from the illegal delivery.

Matthews and Samaraweera went through the opening session unbeaten, but things changed after the break when South Africa took the new ball. Once again, Vernon Philander was the hero for South Africa as he trapped Matthews in front for 63.

Dinesh Chandimal, who had acquitted himself so well in Durban, fell for just one, again off Philander’s bowling, but the Lankan tail wagged to enable Samaraweera to reach three figures. Philander, Imran Tahir and Man of the Match Jacques Kallis all finished with three each as Sri Lanka finished with 342, thus enabling the Proteas to avenge their Kingsmead thrashing.

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Posted on January 6th, 2012 by admin
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