Sri Lanka crashed to a humiliating 233 runs defeat in the first cricket against South Africa at Durban yesterday creating a new world record in a 100 years as the team was dismissed inside 13.5 overs for a first innings total of 42 that marked the least number of overs needed to skittle out a team in a Test.
The last time a team was dismissed in a Test match in the least number of overs was in 1924 when South Africa were bowled out in 12.3 overs for a total of 30 against England.
The defeat also came at a time Sri Lanka Cricket appointed former South African batsman Neil McKenzie as the Consultant coach to impart knowledge on how to play fast bowlers on the fast pitches.
Compared to South Africa’s 25 fours and three sixes in the first innings, Sri Lanka was able to dispatch just six balls to the boundary.
Six of Sri Lanka’s frontline batters failed to reach double figures in the first innings total of 42 while former captain and one of the most experienced Test players in the side Dimuth Karunaratne could only make scores of 2 and 4 in both innings facing just 27 balls in all.
Faced with a massive target of 514 to win, Sri Lanka continuing from an overnight 103 for 5 folded for 282 with Dinesh Chandimal making a top score of 83 as South Africa’s gangly fast bowler Marco Jansen picked up four of the wickets to add to his seven scalps in the first innings giving him a 11–wicket haul in the match.
The second Test between the two teams starts on December 5.
