At the end of Sri Lanka's first innings it looked like it would be a well fought Test as they managed to get close to 400. But then the host's did a magnificent job with the bat to put up a massive total of 621 courtesy a hurricane of an innings from Faf du Plessis and equally important contributions from Markam and Maharaj. They got a big lead and then the bowlers did a brilliant job to take them ahead towards the end of Day 3.
Coming out to bat on Day 4, Sri Lanka kept losing wickets all through. Kusal Perera was looking good, although he had some trouble and luck go his way, he eventually got out as well after scoring a good fifty. Mulder was brilliant in that morning session with the ball picking up crucial wickets. He was well supported by the other pacers as well. They kept bowling those tight lines and lengths and the Sri Lankan batsmen found it difficult to survive. Wanindu Hasaranga played a superb knock, the only Sri Lankan to get a fifty and four wickets on Test debut! But it wasn't going to be enough at all. They never really got those partnerships that would have helped them. Lot of injury concerns as well for them and it's a game they'd want to put past and regroup for the final game, along with trying to resolve the injury issues.
South Africa will be pleased with this win after the way Sri Lanka started in their first innings. It's been a brilliant comeback from them and a commendable effort to set this game up nicely. Some quality pace bowling that cleaned up the Lankan batting, making it quite a one-sided affair towards the end of the game. The younger guys like Mulder and Sipamla in particular will take lot of confidence from this game. Sri Lanka have lot of thinking to do going ahead. Can they comeback to level the series at Johannesburg? Or will the host's make it a clean sweep. Only time will tell us that.
Untill then, that's it from the first Test and we hope you enjoyed our coverage throughout. Do stay tuned for all the action from the next game as well. This is Rishab, along with my colleague, Sameer, signing off!
And that's the end of this game! South Africa impose a dominant win by an innings and 45 runs! It's been a brilliant comeback from South Africa to win this game! Their bowlers have done a fantastic job today after the batsmen set it up nicely with the bat. And with that, they go 1-0 up in the two-match series!
46.1 Anrich Nortje to Kasun Rajitha, OUT! Nortje continues the short stuff from right-arm-round and Rajitha's managed to lob to the man atr point! That's the game for South Africa as Dhananjaya de Silva is not fit to bat in the second innings!
A brilliant innings from Hasaranga comes to a disappointing end! The intent was right from him but hits it straight to the fielder. That was Sri Lanka's final hope of trying to get South Africa to bat again! Well bowled from young Sipamla and that's a big wicket! Just a single wicket left now for the host's to wrap this up.
45.6 Lutho Sipamla to Lahiru Kumara, full delivery on the pads. Kumara hops into the leg side and defends the ball towards short mid-wicket
45.5 Lutho Sipamla to Lahiru Kumara, similar delivery, exactly same awkward delivery from Sipamla
45.4 Lutho Sipamla to Lahiru Kumara, back of a length delivery just outside off. Kumara's feet were stuck to the ground as he swirled at the ball from inside the line
45.3 Lutho Sipamla to Lahiru Kumara, clears his front leg early and has a go at the short ball but fails to make any connection whatsoever
45.3 Lutho Sipamla to Lahiru Kumara, Sipamla welcomes Kumara with a sharp bumper and the new batsman is happy to duck under it
Lahiru Kumara is the new man in
45.2 Lutho Sipamla to Wanindu Hasaranga, OUT! Hasaranga makes room for himself watching the short ball outside off and he's found Temba Bavuma at long-off!
45.1 Lutho Sipamla to Wanindu Hasaranga, length ball on fourth stump line. Hasaranga tries to push it into the off-side but the inside edge shoots the ball on his boots
Nortje bowling it short and into Rajitha who's struggling at the crease. Injury concerns in plenty for Sri Lanka in this game. But he's done well to stand at the crease so far. Sri Lanka have started this session well with some quick runs. Can they get past the lead and get South Africa to bat again?
44.6 Anrich Nortje to Kasun Rajitha, short ball near the ribs to finish the over. Rajitha's managed to guide it towards fine leg but there's a man in the deep to stop the runs
44.5 Anrich Nortje to Kasun Rajitha, length ball on off-stump. Rajitha punches it into the off-side but finds the mat at silly point on the bounce
44.4 Anrich Nortje to Kasun Rajitha, another short ball over the leg stump. Rajitha's looked away and defended it with just one hand
44.3 Anrich Nortje to Kasun Rajitha, similar delivery from Nortje and Rajitha's defended well towards square leg
44.2 Anrich Nortje to Kasun Rajitha, short ball aimed at the body. Rajitha is not being able to move a lot but he's managed to fend the ball away with his upper hand
