Jacques Rudolph amassed an unbeaten 85 at stumps on Friday to anchor South Africa’s first innings reply to an imposing Sri Lankan total of 486, as the tourists ended day three of the first test 139 runs behind.
On a day when Muttiah Muralitharan wrested the world record for most Test wickets from Australian Shane Warne, Rudolph passed the 1 000 runs mark in his 15th Test to ensure South Africa avoided the follow on. Rudolph scored his fifth Test half century as South Africa ended the day on 347 for seven wickets.
Since scoring 222 on his Test debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong, Rudolph’s career went through a shaky patch in series against England and the West Indies before recovering his form with a tour of New Zealand. On Friday he mixed caution with defence and was involved in important partnerships with Jacques Kallis, skipper Graeme Smith, and Shaun Pollock.
The partnership with Kallis added 76 runs for the third wicket in only 83 minutes, his spell with Smith added 45 runs in 41 minutes, while he joined Pollock for 62 off 108 balls.
It was Rudolph’s attacking partnership with Nicky Boje that added 52 and forced the Sri Lankans to revise their strategy, as Muralitharan’s bowling was largely neutralised by the left-handers determined approach. Despite being regularly rotated from the fort end and the town end of the ground, Muralitharan managed only two wickets on Friday.
Kallis also did much to wrest the initiative from the Sri Lankan bowlers after South Africa lost the first two wickets in quick succession before lunch. In an attacking innings of 59 off 79 balls, including a six and nine fours, Kallis showed an adventurous spirit in his strokeplay before falling to a midwcket catch by Kumar Sangakkara off the bowling of Muralitharan.
Earlier in the day a burst of fireworks greeted star offspinner Muralitharan’s 528th test wicket as he regained the world record shared with Warne. He ended the day with 529 wickets.
Muralitharan passed Warne when he had South African opening batsman Martin van Jaarsveld caught by Thilan Samaraweera at slip for 37 at the start of the 13th over of the day. Muralitharan also had a hand in the dismissal of the first South Africa wicket to fall when he knocked the ball into the stumps at the bowlers end to run out Boeta Dippenaar for 46, the return coming from Upul Chandana at mid
on.
The Galle pitch traditionally favours spinners and has been a happy hunting ground for Muralitharan. Three times he has claimed more than 10 wickets in tests here — against South Africa in 2000, against England in 2003 and the West Indies in 2001. – Sapa-AP