Resuming the third day from 132/3, Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs were careful at the start against the Lankan bowlers. Despite getting multiple reprieves, the pair milked their way to 182/3 by the first drinks break. As Bavuma reached his fifty and Stubbs followed him, the fourth-wicket partnership neared the 150-run mark as the score read 233/3 in 73 overs.
Following the spinners’ failure, the second new ball was negated by the dynamic duo who didn’t lose out on capitalizing on the scoring opportunities. Soon, Stubbs brought up yet another century in his brief Test career before Bavuma raced to one with the lead growing 454. As time passed by, the duo executed some attacking strokes before the wicketkeeper-batter was cleaned up by Vishwa Fernando for 122 runs. Subsequently, David Bedingham charged the opposition bowlers and added 28 runs together before Bavuma was outdone at the cusp of Tea. South Africa declared 366/5 during the interval asking 516 runs from the visitors.
Sri Lanka’s aim to quest a mammoth total started with setbacks in the form of openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka. With the surface favouring the batters to a decent extent this day, Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal held their nerve and forged a 44-run partnership together Marco Jansen struck the former plumb in front. With Kamindu Mendis at one end, Chandimal continued to milk his way but Jansen ended up getting another wicket in the form of Kamindu with SL at 99/4. Soon after, Tony de Zorzi pulled off a blinder of a catch at short leg within a fraction of a second to dismiss nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya at the cusp of Stumps. Sri Lanka lost half of their wickets on the day with just 103 runs on the board, eyeing an improbable task on the fourth day.
What a catch!
— Pandit Pranoob (@pranoob76889) November 29, 2024
He is batting brilliantly these days!
There is nothing that can break the Human Spirit……..#TembaBavuma – Khetshe. Bhayi. #ProteaFire #SAvsSL @TembaBavuma pic.twitter.com/MmtJ89wtRo
— Luxolo September (@Lux_September) November 29, 2024
No one can stop him!
9th WICKET FOR MARCO JANSEN! 🔥
– Inform batter Kamindu Mendis dismissed for 10 in 28 balls. 👀#SAvsSL #SLvSA #Cricket pic.twitter.com/aIBnWLgpYD— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) November 29, 2024
Yeah no point doing that there!
Why would he review that man. We all heard the sound. Come on kamindu
Why would he review that man. We all heard the sound. Come on kamindu #SAvsSL #Proteas
vsSL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#SAvsSL #Proteas
— Vho-Ravhuanzwo🇿🇦 (@Pux1948) November 29, 2024
He is beast!
Gerald Coetzee in his last spell was hovering around the mark of 154 kph. Lethal bowling #SAvsSL pic.twitter.com/QXrXljD6C6
— Mustafa (@mustafamasood0) November 29, 2024
Whatelse do you expect?
Bavuma is scoring runs 🤯🤯🤯#SLvsSA
— yadav rishabh (@Rishabhbruhh) November 29, 2024
Champ!
Century for Sir Temba Bavuma ❤️#SLvsSA#TBavuma pic.twitter.com/jSv1Jb9yj8
— Dr Kanbhoo Khan (@DrKanbhoo28027) November 29, 2024
Yeah may be keep hoping!
I mean we can still win this 🥹🦔 🇱🇰 #SLvsSA
— Dineth Heshan (@dinethheshan__) November 29, 2024
Really?
Gonna need another Durban miracle by some other guy to save us. 😔 #SLvsSA
— Pulditha Perera (@PuldithaS) November 29, 2024
Big runs for him!
Hundred for captain Teema Bavuma.#SLvsSA pic.twitter.com/51t2c9TWGf
— Sama Umair (@umair6723) November 29, 2024
Yes sir!
Temba Bavuma – The Captain of the people, for the people and by the people. 🫡#SLvsSA #SLvSA #SAvsSL pic.twitter.com/YCtFjHFMgQ
— Faiz Fazel (@theFaizFazel) November 29, 2024