Sri Lanka go in search of a piece of history this week when they bid to become the first Asian side to win a Test series in South Africa, and after their remarkable win in Durban last week they head to Port Elizabeth knowing they only need to avoid defeat for that to happen.
South Africa should be smarting from the way they lost the first Test and you would expect a proud nation to come out all guns blazing here to ensure they draw the series, which although would be a disappointment, would at least avoid further embarrassment.
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South Africa
The Proteas will still be wondering how they never got over the line in Durban but in truth they allowed Sri Lanka to hang around and paid the ultimate price for that. They weren’t helped with injuries and things like that but let’s get it right, they should still have had far too much for a travel shy side who should be weary after almost three months on the road.
The reason why Sri Lanka were allowed to stay in the match was because South Africa flattered to deceive with the bat once again. That has been their downfall all summer. They got away with it in the series with Pakistan but at some point it was going to catch up with them, and Durban was the time their troubles came back to haunt them.
Sri Lanka
You have to give Sri Lanka a massive amount of credit for their victory in the first Test. That win came in conditions that are alien to them and after three months on the road you could have forgiven them for going through the motions in this series. Nobody gave them that script though, and even when the game looked gone in Durban, they still came through and got over the line for a famous success.
Heading into the series, the big question was whether Sri Lanka would have enough with the ball to stay in both the matches. We got that answer and some in Durban and with conditions in Port Elizabeth likely to suit them even more they should go into this finale full of confidence. If a couple of players can get in with the bat they could achieve that famous piece of history.
Team News
Vernon Philander has been ruled out of this second Test due to injury so Wiaan Mulder could come in for a Test debut. That will strengthen the batting but maybe not do much for their quality with the ball.
Sri Lanka have a doubt over their hero from the first Test in Kusal Mendis. He rolled an ankle in practice and will be assessed on the morning of the match. Milinda Siriwardena is in line to replace him if he isn’t passed fit.
St George’s Park
As with Kingsmead in Durban, this is not South Africa’s favourite ground. There have been 29 previous Test matches here with the Proteas only holding a narrow 13-11 winning advantage. There have also been five draws at this venue. Sri Lanka have only played here once and that was a defeat in 2016.
This is traditionally quite a low scoring ground although if batsmen do get in they can go pretty deep but I’m expecting another match where the scores are on the low to middle range, which should make for an exciting conclusion to the series.
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Betting
I expect South Africa to win this match and level the series but nothing in that first Test inspired me to look at taking the short prices that are around on them to do so. I guess based on that first game Sri Lanka would look good value, but asking them to repeat that performance again probably isn’t the wisest thing to rely on. With that in mind I’ll take one other bet.
Dananjaya de Silva looked pretty handy with the bat in that first Test and in slower conditions he should in theory be just as good in this match if not a little better so his performance line of 71.5 looks a touch on the low side. When you factor in that he might well bowl a few more overs in this match and any turn he can get making wickets a live proposition, there is a good chance he builds on the 71pts he scored in Durban.
Tips
WON – Back D.de Silva’s Performance – Over 71.5pts for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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