Sri Lanka beat South Africa in first Test: Records broken
Sri Lanka stunned South Africa in the first Test at the Kingsmead in Durban. The visitors pulled off an amazing one-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series. Kusal Perera played one of the greatest Test innings to hand his side an unlikely win. This became one of the most memorable away wins for Lanka. Here are the records broken.
Sri Lanka needed 78 runs to win when they lost their ninth wicket while chasing a total of 304. Credit to Perera, who played freely after getting some support from number 11 Vishwa Fernando. South Africa posted 235 and 259 in their two innings and had the edge over Lankans, who could only manage 191 in their first innings. Perera (153*) achieved the unthinkable.
The 78-run stand is a record partnership for the tenth wicket in a successful chase. Perera and Fernando went past the previous record in Tests held by Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed versus Australia in Karachi, 1994 (57). Sri Lanka became the first Asian team to successfully chase a fourth innings target of 300-plus runs in a Test played in SENA countries.
Perera struck the second highest fourth innings score by an Asian batsman in a winning cause in an away Test match. Perera (153*) went past Pakistan's Shan Masood (125) versus Lanka in Pallekele, 2015. Former Pakistan legend Younis Khan (171*) holds the record versus Sri Lanka in Pallekele, 2015. Perera helped Lanka script their highest successful run chase ever, away from home.
This was Perera's highest individual score in Test cricket. The southpaw also notched his second career Test century. He also scored 67 of 78 runs after the fall of ninth wicket. Perera arrived at the crease when his side was 52-3. He batted for more than five hours and smashed 12 fours and five sixes. This was his first ton in three years.
1999, Barbados:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) February 16, 2019
- Target 308
- Lara at No. 5, scores 153*
- WI win by 1 wkt
2019, Durban:
- Target 304
- Perera at No. 5, scores 153*
- SL win by 1 wkt
Knocks that will be remembered forever! #SAvSL
The Lankans managed to end South Africa's run of seven straight home series wins. Even if Proteas win the second Test, the series would be drawn. Lanka came in South Africa after having lost their last three Test series. Prior to this win, Lanka had lost seven out of the last eight Test matches. Fernando notched his best individual Test match figures (8/133).
Dale Steyn picked up six wickets in this Test. He now has 439 Test scalps and went past both Kapil Dev (434) and Stuart Broad (437). Steyn is now number seven in the all-time list with 439 wickets. Quinton de Kock struck two fifties across two innings (80 and 55). SA skipper Faf du Plessis (90) struck his 18th Test fifty.
