South Africa near victory in Durban Test against Sri Lanka

South Africa is on the cusp of a heavy victory over Sri Lanka, after centuries from Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma gave them control of the first Test in Durban on Friday.

The hosts began the day in a strong position already, leading by 281 runs with seven wickets still in hand in the third innings.

Stubbs (122) and Bavuma (113) then navigated close to two full sessions without the loss of a wicket, taking South Africa through to 338/3 before Stubbs fell to Vishwa Fernando.

Bavuma would also be removed just before tea, leading the home side to declare with a healthy 516-run lead.

In the final session of the day, Sri Lanka’s slim hopes of salvaging the Test faded further as they lost half of their fourth innings wickets before stumps.

Dimuth Karunaratne (4) was the first to go, caught in the slips off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada.

Pathum Nissanka (23) followed soon after, trapped LBW by Gerald Coetzee to leave the visitors in trouble at 38/2.

Dinesh Chandimal (29 not out) and Angelo Mathews (25) then built an encouraging partnership, putting on 44 runs for the third wicket.

Man-of-the-hour Marco Jansen, who took seven wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings, then struck, removing Mathews and Kamindu Mendis (10) in quick succession.

With Rabada bagging Prabath Jayasuriya (1) in the penultimate over of the day, Sri Lanka were left reeling at 103/5, with 413 runs still to get.

Cricket betting sites give the visitors virtually no hope of pulling off a recovery when play resumes on Saturday.

Bovada puts South Africa at odds of -100000 to win, while a Sri Lankan victory or a draw both return a hefty +15000.

These Cricket betting odds bode well for South Africa’s World Test Championship ambitions.

The side currently sit fifth on the WTC table, but will move up to third place with a victory over Sri Lanka in Durban.

Secure at least three victories in their remaining four Tests of the 2023-2025 cycle, and the Proteas will give themselves a strong chance of making next June’s final for the first time.

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