South Africa go into the second and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground on Wednesday with a chance of winning another series against Sri Lanka.
South Africa have won four of their previous five-Test series with honours even on their three-Test tour here four years ago, which ended at 1-1.
A comfortable draw in the opening Test in Galle came as a boost to the visiting side’s morale as Sri Lanka were expected to go one-up on the turning pitch at the southern coastal town.
”We are going into the second Test with all that more confidence,” said South African captain Graeme Smith, who slammed 74 in their second innings score of 203-3 after being set a target of 325.
South Africa’s batting will be fortified by the return of opener Herschelle Gibbs, who has been declared fit after missing the first Test with an ankle injury.
Sri Lanka’s only Test win against South Africa came four years ago, when ace off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took 13 wickets in Galle.
But Muralitharan, barred from bowling his controversial away-going ‘doosra’ delivery, struggled to get important breakthroughs at the same venue this time, taking just one wicket in the second innings.
”We are disappointed with the result in Galle,” said Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu. ”We were expecting to win the first match and have to sort some things out.”
Smith, on the other hand, fancied his chances after a fine show.
Seamer Shaun Pollock picked up four wickets in the first innings, left-arm spinner Nicky Boje got a five-for in the second and batsmen Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis and Smith himself were all among the runs in the first Test.
”We are more upbeat after the result as we drew the match comfortably,” said Smith, who took over as captain from Pollock after last year’s World Cup.
South Africa have won one of their previous two Tests at the Colombo venue, in 1993, and drew the other on their last tour in 2000.
Sri Lanka otherwise have a good record at the ground having won 11 of 24 matches and lost six with seven draws.
Muralitharan also has a superb haul of 111 wickets in 17 matches at the SSC ground but his form has been worrying Atapattu.
”Muralitharan was unimpressive at Galle, which was quite unusual, but we hope to see him taking wickets very soon,” said Atapattu. ”It’s not possible for someone to just come on and take five wickets every time.”
A five-match one-day series will follow the Tests.
The teams:
Sri Lanka (from): Marvan Atapattu (c), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Nuwan Zoysa, Thilan Samaraweera, Rangana Herath, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ian Daniel.
South Africa (from): Graeme Smith (c), Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, Martin Van Jaarsveld, Boeta Dippenaar, Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Mornantau Hayward, Lance Klusener, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Robin Peterson, Andrew Puttick. – Sapa-AFP