South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2016: 1st Test, Day 2 - 5 talking points

South Africa bossed around Sri Lanka when the visitors turn came to bat on a windy Port Elizabeth ground. Lanka ended Day 2 at 181/7 with Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Matthews the only batsmen to cross 30. The trio of Proteas seamers, in particular, Philander and Abbott bowled probing lines and Sri Lankan batsmen, who were adamant on being aggressive, found the edge far too often.

Earlier, De Kock could not inspire the tail enders to help South Africa past 300, forget the 350+ score Duminy was hoping for when he spoke after Day 1. Lakmal was rewarded for some fine bowling with his first five-wicket haul in Tests and cleaned up the South African tail along with Pradeep, who bowled De Kock with a picture perfect yorker to put curtains to the first innings.

Any hopes of retaining the advantage given by their bowlers were quickly dispelled when Abbott had Karunaratne chopping onto his stumps and Kusal Perera slashed at a wide Philander delivery to edge behind. Abbott dismissed Kusal Mendis for a duck to put Lanka at 22/3. Though Matthews and Chandimal did a repair job, the Proteas bowlers continued picking up wickets to get a firm grip in the Test.

Here are the talking points from the day's play at PE.

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#5 Lakmal's inspired bowling performance

Suranga Lakmal was expected to lead this Sri Lankan attack in spite of his Test career stats looking unimpressive. On a lush green pitch, Lakmal found early swing on Day 1 but failed to land the ball accurately. However, post lunch on Day 1, he bowled exceptional lines and had three in the bag soon.

He added Du Plessis' wicket later in the day to take his tally to four at close of play. On Day 2 he had to contour an aggressive minded Quinton de Kock and a determined Philander. Once Philander was dismissed by Pradeep, Lakmal found the perfect line for Maharaj, who nicked behind for a duck.

Lakmal's five-wicket haul, four of which read "caught Chandimal bowled Lakmal", helped Sri Lanka get an early grip on the Test match. He received little help from the other seamers on Day 1 although Pradeep bowled well on Day 2.

#4 De Kock falls to a beauty after running out Abbott

Pradeep produced the perfect yorker to clean up De Kock's stumps

Quinton de Kock was South Africa's trump card heading into Day 2. Along with Philander, he was expected to put on a counter-attacking partnership to counter the Lankan seamers and their veteran spinner.

South Africa lost Philander early on Day 2 as Pradeep invited him to pull with a bouncer, which he gleefully skied to deep mid-wicket. Maharaj fell for a duck and De Kock was starting to get frustrated with lack of strike. He wanted to be on strike so bad that he smashed a cut to deep third man and after running a single called for a second, only to realise the throw was already on. Abbott was stranded and completely sold by De Kock.

However, the run-out was acceptable because De Kock was the key man and he could still dig into the bowlers with a capable Rabada for company. However, all such hopes were washed out as Pradeep produced the perfect yorker to clean up De Kock's stumps.

#3 Abbott and Philander answers Du Plessis' calls

Philander and Abbott were right on the money and made the ball dance around

After a lower than expected first innings total, South Africa needed their seamers to step up and get some early wickets. Philander and Abbott were right on the money and made the ball dance around, aided by some strong wind around the ground.

Abbott soon struck first blood by finding the inside edge off Karunaratne's bat. Philander equalled him by capturing Kusal Perera, who tried to throw the kitchen sink at a wide delivery. Abbott then produced the perfect line to dismiss Kusal Mendis, one of the most talented batsmen among the younger crop of Lankan batsmen.

While Kaushal Silva and Angelo Matthews tried to rebuild, Philander had other plans and produced a rip-roaring delivery that seamed in to capture Silva plumb in front for 16. The opening bowlers shared the top 4 wickets among them to South Africa in the driver's seat.

#2 Dhananjaya de Silva continues his fine run of form

De Silva came into this Test with a batting average of 61

De Silva came into this Test with a batting average of 61 and a memorable hundred against Australia in the home series. He was batting at no.7 in the line-up and came in with his side in trouble at 94/5.

Philander and Abbott were bowling teasing lines while Rabada posed a huge threat with his pace and seam movement. De Silva weathered the early storm but kept the scoreboard ticking with some fine strokes.

Despite losing Chandimal early after he came in, Silva had Herath for company. The veteran spinner played a good supporting role as De Silva assumed the role of the senior batsmen. He remained unbeaten on 43 although Herath was dismissed by Maharaj.

#1 Maharaj gets his "model"

Herath fell to his spin counterpart, Maharaj, after compiling a well made 24

Keshav Maharaj had told before the series that he hoped to learn a trick or two from Sri Lanka's veteran left-arm spinner, Rangana Herath. Maharaj was keen on getting some spinning lessons from Herath but had to bowl at him as soon as he walked in.

Herath had hit some boundaries off Rabada and was looking confident when Maharaj bowled a flat delivery on the stumps that Herath tried to reverse sweep. He missed the sweep and was struck in front prompting a huge appeal from the Proteas to which Aleem Dar raised his fingers.

Herath has two half-centuries in Tests and was looking good for another on a seaming wicket. Silva was pleasing to the eye and his effortless batting put Herath at ease. However, he fell to his spin counterpart, Maharaj, after compiling a well made 24.