Rain gave South Africa a glimmer of hope as they looked to escape with a draw in the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground on Saturday.
Just eight overs were possible on the penultimate day as South Africa were set a 493-run target by the home side, who declared at their overnight 211-4 after gaining a 281-run first innings lead.
South Africa were 21-2 at close as the Sri Lankan new-ball bowlers came up with incisive spells. But rain, which had washed out the first two sessions, came back to force an early closure.
Umpires Steve Bucknor of the West Indies and Billy Bowden of New Zealand had scheduled 38 overs for the day after overnight and early morning rain washed out the major part, but rain spoiled their calculations.
Sri Lanka were left with their fingers crossed as they looked to win their first Test series against South Africa after the first match ended in a draw in Galle last week.
Sri Lanka’s coach John Dyson though tried to be positive.
”We have a minimum of 105 overs on the last day as per rules, which I think is enough time for us to go for a win,” said Dyson, who took over as coach from Dav Whatmore last year.
”We’ve played really well in this match to get into the position that we are in now, so it would be a shame if bad weather comes back to prevent us from winning,” said Dyson, who had words of praise for his pacemen.
”They did a great job to get those wickets and we are happy to have them two-down after such a short session,” he said about Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas, who took a wicket each.
South African captain Graeme Smith too praised the pace duo while looking at the possibility of salvaging a draw.
”Malinga is not the orthodox kind of bowler you learn playing in South Africa. It takes some time to read him. You’ve got to watch him all the time and the uneven bounce makes him difficult to play.
”The weather is not in our hands. We are just trying to focus on what we can, to try and save this match,” said Smith.
Malinga hurled a bouncer at opener Herschelle Gibbs (four) and the batsman was caught fending off as the ball went straight to Thilan Samaraweera at leg-gully.
Gibbs, who missed the first Test because of an ankle injury, could not get off the mark in the first innings.
Martin Van Jaarsveld (two), softened by a bouncer from Malinga that hit his visor, went a little later. He was bowled by an over-pitched delivery from Vaas as the ball hit his bat and then pad before making its way to the stumps.
South African coach Eric Simons felt it was a good chance to get away with a draw.
”We were in a desperate situation and it would have been interesting if we had to bat out the whole day. But we now have a reasonable chance of saving the game,” said Simons. – Sapa-AFP