JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada ripped through Sri Lanka’s batting lineup as South Africa forced the follow-on and grabbed another wicket before lunch on the third day of the third and final test at the Wanderers on Saturday.
The tourists went to the interval on 13 for one, having been bowled out for 131 in their first innings, trailing by 282 runs on a lively wicket offering steep bounce and significant lateral movement.
Kusal Mendis will resume after the interval on five, partnered by Dimuth Karunaratne, who has eight.
Replying to South Africa’s first innings score of 426, Sri Lanka, who started the day on 80 for four, lost seven wickets in the morning session as their batsmen failed to cope with the accuracy of the home bowlers.
Vernon Philander (3-28) started the rot when he induced an edge from Dinesh Chandimal to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock with the batsman on five.
Rabada (3-44) then grabbed the key wicket of Sri Lanka captain Angelo Matthews (19) soon afterwards as De Kock produced a magnificent diving catch in front of first slip.
Debutant seamer Duanne Olivier (2-19) claimed his first test wicket when Rangana Herath top-edged a vicious bouncer and was caught by Stephen Cook.
Olivier later grabbed a second with Upul Tharanga (24) his next victim, while Wayne Parnell wrapped up the tail, accounting for Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep, who both scored four.
It was the 61st time in test cricket that all 10 wickets were out caught.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis enforced the follow-on and with his first ball of the innings, Rabada accounted for opener Kaushal Silva, taken behind the stumps by De Kock.
South Africa are seeking a clean-sweep in the series, having already claimed victories in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Davis)
