The Proteas hold all the cards in the third Test against Sri Lanka. They just need need to play them right for a quick result.
With Sri Lanka at 80-4, trailing by 346, South Africa are firmly on course for a three-Test whitewash.
The ideal scenario would be to bowl out the hapless visitors for under 226, giving Faf du Plessis the option of enforcing a follow-on. He probably won’t do it at that margin, but if the bowling strike force come out and demolish the Sri Lankans, it would be worth considering.
The signs are that there will be rain at some point on day three, which will disrupt play. That will disturb the Sri Lankan batsman far more than the South African bowlers, who can take the time for a refreshing rub-down.
The wicket is not getting any easier and the Sri Lankan batsmen, who have shown little enthusiasm for a dogfight, know they will be in for a torrid time against the four-prong pace attack.
Angelo Mathews can only encourage his men to hang tough and hope that the weather comes to their aid.
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/Backpagepix
