South Africa are firm favourites to win the 3rd Test against Sri Lanka, despite slipping up in the 2nd Test
South Africa take on Sri Lanka in the third and final Test on Tuesday after suffering a shock defeat last time out to let the opposition back in the series. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s men won their first Test in 18 months in Durban so can they back it up with victory in Cape Town? (S Africa 1/2, Sri Lanka 11/2, draw 11/4
Betfred).
The Sri Lankans looked like a beaten side after their heavy first Test defeat and it would have been no surprise to see them capitulate in Durban and Cape Town but they bounced back in no uncertain terms to pull off a shock but comprehensive victory.
And now there is even talk among the Sri Lankan ranks of pulling off a series victory – which would be their first series success in more than two years.
However, Newlands has become a fortress for the hosts since their reintroduction to international cricket, with 15 wins, five draws and three defeats in 23 five-day encounters.
Those three losses have all been to Australia and so everyone else has been dealt with comfortably and there seems no reason to suggest that they will struggle this week either, with the Asians having lost both of their previous two Tests at the famous venue.
Jacques Kallis has been struggling for form of late but he has never gone through a home series without scoring a century and is certainly due a big score in the series finale.
And history is on the all-rounder’s side as he has already amassed 1,874 runs at an average of 72.07 at Cape Town with eight hundreds and eight half-centuries (Kallis 7/2 Top Sri Lanka Batsman).
Other Proteas’ stars also like the ground, with captain Graeme Smith averaging 58.63 and Hashim Amla scoring his runs at more than 41.
Smith’s attack has also bowled well at the venue, with the world’s premier fast bowler, Dale Steyn, claiming 45 wickets at 20.33 and his strike partner Morne Morkel, taking 15 scalps at 23.26 from just three Tests.
Despite their defeat last time out confidence will be high that they can turn things around and come away with a victory, and they will need to, as pressure is mounting on the skipper, with the Proteas failing to win the previous four series on their own patch.
Ashwell Prince has paid the price for the Durban defeat with Alviro Petersen back at the top of the order and Jacques Rudolph dropping down to number six, and that will add some stability to what has been a fragile top six of late.
It will be interesting to see how the Sri Lankans respond to their unexpected success as it could go one of two ways.
If they start believing that they are better than they actually are then a heavy defeat is on the cards, but, if they stay grounded, then the confidence gained by the success should inspire them to even greater things.
Thilan Samaraweera and Kumar Sangakkara made superb hundreds, with Dinesh Chandimal scoring two half-centuries in the match to help set up the victory, but it was the tourists’ bowlers that took the plaudits with Chanaka Welegedera and Rangana Herath taking five-fors (Sangakarra 100/30 Top Sri Lanka Batsman).
Herath could play a big part in Cape Town as Harbhajan Singh took seven wickets in an innings earlier this year while England’s Graeme Swann took five wickets against the Proteas in 2010 and the pitch is expected to take spin.
South Africa are the stronger side and could win the game with ease if it goes to form at this venue but cricket is a funny old sport and the Sri Lankans have already proved that they have the stomach for a fight.
