SA V SRI LANKA

FAVOURITES’

DIMUTH KARUNARATNE

The new Sri Lanka captain started the day on the best possible note by calling correctly when Faf du Plessis flipped the coin. Whatever he then said to his bowlers clearly worked because they were right on the money. His only false step was bowling himself as second change.

VISHWA FERNANDO

What a spell from the left-arm swing merchant. The ball he got Aiden Markram with, trimming the top of off-stump, was a thing of Test match beauty. He should have also had Hashim Amla with another peach that nipped back in. He deserved the rewards he got later in the innings, ending with four scalps.

QUINTON DE KOCK

Time and time again, De Kock puts his hand up and rescues a situation. His knock of 80 spared South African blushes, and then started to put the heat on the visitors. Regardless of the situation, he retains a terrific instinct to take the game forward. Long may he rebel against the breeze.

TEMBA BAVUMA

One of the these days he will make a mountain of runs. Playing as well as he ever has for his country, on 47, he was desperately unlucky to be run out at the bowler’s end thanks to the unluckiest of touches. Even technology took a while to send him back to the team sheds.

‘NO WORLD CUP

SPRINGBOK forward Duane Vermeulen says there are no favourites for this year’s Rugby World Cup, to be hosted in Japan starting in September. “You know, I don’t think there is a standout favourite to win this World Cup,” said Vermeulen “I think there are about eight teams that can really compete for it. It’s pretty open ...”