Proteas seamer Marco Jansen celebrates taking 7/13 in Sri Lanka’s first innings in the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban. Proteas seamer Marco Jansen celebrates taking 7/13 in Sri Lanka’s first innings in the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP
Beanpole Proteas fast-bowler Marco Jansen’s produced an unbelievable spell to bundle out Sri Lanka for their lowest ever Test score on the second day of the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban.
Jansen, bowling with a strong wind at his back, took 7/13 in just 6.5 overs to help bowl Sri Lanka out for just 42 in 13.5 overs, just over an hour after South Africa were bowled out before the lunch break.
Sri Lanka's previous lowest total was 71 against Pakistan in Kandy in 1994. It was also the lowest total by any team against South Africa, three fewer than New Zealand's 45 in Cape Town in 2013.
It is, however, the second shortest completed innings in the history of Test cricket, lasting just 83 balls, eight short of the overall record of the 75 balls that South Africa lasted when they were bowled out for 30 by England in Birmingham in 1924.
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— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) November 28, 2024
You just had to see it 😏
📺 Stream#SAvSL on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/9EWudydrde
Earlier, the Proteas were bowled out for 191 after resuming their first innings on 80/4 after the last two sessions were washed out. Captain Temba Bavuma’s 70 was the cornerstone of the innings after the top-order fell to some top Sri Lankan bowling.
But the visitors’ bowlers hardly had a chance to put their feet up before they had to take the field again, thanks to Jansen’s career-best figures.
Only two batsmen reached double figures on a pitch which has helped seam bowlers throughout.
Kamindu Mendis stroked three fours in making 13 before edging a loose drive off Jansen to first slip, before No 10 batsmen Lahiru Kumara slogged two fours in making 10 not out.
Jansen seemed to struggle a bit with the strong Durban wind at his back, overstepping quite a few times. But the remarkable thing was that after every no-ball he seemed to take a wicket.
Jansen’s seam and bounce was too hot to handle for the Sri Lankan batsman when he got it right. The Sri Lankans pushed with hard hands outside the off-stump, not taking the lessons from Bavuma’s excellent knock, which now looks like a match-winning effort.
Jansen was ably supported by Gerald Coetzee (2/18) and Kagiso Rabada (1/10).
The Proteas took a 177-run lead into the tea break, with openers Aiden Markram Tony de Zorzi guiding the side to 28/0.
Meanwhile, Proteas all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has suffered fracture of the right middle finger after being hit on the gloves and will not be able to bowl or field for the remainder of the match.
* Additional reporting by AFP
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