South Africa Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

Sri Lanka v South Africa, one-off T20I, Colombo

South Africa have made 'huge strides' as an ODI team - JP Duminy

At the end of their tour of Sri Lanka, the emergence of Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj to complement Imran Tahir is perhaps the biggest positive for South Africa
May 11, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, one-off T20I, Colombo

Dinesh Chandimal guides Sri Lanka home in low-scoring thriller

Isuru Udana, the left-arm fast bowler, makes his first appearance of the tour
May 15, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, Only T20, Colombo

Sellout crowd awaits postscript match of the tour

The only T20 between Sri Lanka and South Africa is shoehorned in at the back-end, set to begin less than 48 hours after the last ODI was completed
May 16, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 5th ODI, Colombo

'He's made of steel' - Mathews on Akila

Sri Lanka's captain was impressed with his lead spinner's ability to bounce back from tough outings in the fifth ODI
May 15, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 5th ODI, Colombo

Mathews, Akila Dananjaya hand South Africa a drubbing

May 17, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 5th ODI, Colombo

Another chance for Sri Lanka and South Africa to build World Cup plans

With the series already decided, the hosts will look to continue their aggressive batting approach, and the visitors to keep trying their younger players
May 17, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 4th ODI, Pallekele

Lower order, Lakmal end Sri Lanka's losing run

South Africa rung in three changes, with Klaasen and Maharaj also making their way into their XI
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 4th ODI, Kandy

Sri Lanka desperate to break rut as de Kock stands in for du Plessis

Quinton de Kock will lead South Africa in the last two ODIs as they will look to give their World Cup hopefuls more chances
May 16, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 4th ODI, Kandy

Sri Lanka seek best combination and 'continuity' in ODIs

While Angelo Mathews said they were open to shuffling batsmen around, he emphasised that it was important to retain players too
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 4th ODI, Kandy

Gibson shifts focus to experimentation for last two ODIs

With the series already decided, Ottis Gibson said South Africa would trial several players with the World Cup in mind
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Pallekele

Series loss exposes Sri Lanka's top-order issues

Batting coach Thilan Samaraweera conceded that Sri Lanka's top order is nowhere near finalised, as they look ahead to the World Cup
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Pallekele

South Africa ride on Hendricks ton, Duminy 92 to seal series

South Africa hand Reeza Hendricks ODI debut
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Pallekele

Can Sri Lanka end their losing streak against South Africa?

South Africa have beaten them 10 times in a row, in a streak stretching back to 2014
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 3rd ODI, Pallekele

We rely too much on our spinners - Angelo Mathews

Sri Lanka have done some soul-searching after a spate of poor results in ODIs, and identified that they need to become better across a variety of conditions and not just prosper on turning tracks
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd ODI, Dambulla

'We were a bunch of school kids when it came to today's fielding' - Mathews

Niroshan Dickwella agreed with his captain, saying Sri Lanka made too many mistakes in the field to defend a total of 244
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd ODI, Dambulla

De Kock, bowlers, power South Africa to comfortable win

South Africa remain unchanged for the second ODI, keeping faith in the team that won the first match by five wickets
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd ODI, Dambulla

Can Sri Lanka keep out South Africa's quicks?

The visitors are 1-0 up, and will hope for contributions from younger members of their side such as Aiden Markram and Wiaan Muller
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd ODI, Dambulla

I like responsibility, but don't see myself as any leader - Rabada

On the eve of his 50th ODI appearance, the 23-year-old fast bowler remains humble on his roles and responsibilities in South Africa's limited-overs squad
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st ODI, Dambulla

Have told Thisara how important he is for 2019 World Cup - Samaraweera

The Sri Lanka batting coach felt that after some strong discussions, the allrounder was heading in the right direction
May 14, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st ODI, Dambulla

Shamsi, Rabada four-fors take SA 1-0 up

Sri Lanka went in with three spinners, with Akila Dananjaya joined by Lakshan Sandakan and Shehan Jayasuriya
May 14, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st ODI, Dambulla

Backbenchers hope to kickstart World Cup preparation

The five-match ODI series that starts in Dambulla is a chance for both Sri Lanka and South Africa to strap in, and start building some form
May 16, 2024
South Africa in Sri Lanka 2018

'Want to make No. 3 spot my own' - Theunis de Bruyn

The batsman said the sweep had been a key weapon during his innings of 101 in the second Test at the SSC
May 11, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, SSC, 4th day

De Bruyn joins Jonty, and Herath's fourth-innings bounty

Stats highlights from Sri Lanka's 199-run win in the second Test against South Africa
May 13, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, SSC, 4th day

Herath six-for completes 2-0 after de Bruyn's fighting 101

A 123-run fourth-wicket stand gave South Africa a glimmer of hope before lunch, but Temba Bavuma's late wicket left Sri Lanka three wickets away from victory
May 17, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd day

Karunaratne has been brilliant in the last year or so - Mathews

Having known him since high school, Mathews feels the opener has added a lot of stability to the inexperienced Sri Lanka side
May 14, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd day

Sri Lanka "street-smart" in denying us preparation for turners - Elgar

The opener believed the hosts had denied South Africa preparation on pitches that were similar to those they would encounter in the Test series
May 11, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, Colombo, 3rd Day

Spinners put Sri Lanka in sight of 2-0 series win

With the Test match headed only one way, Sri Lanka took the opportunity to stretch their lead and grind South Africa down before putting them in to bat a second time
May 19, 2024
South Africa in Sri Lanka 2018

The case for scrapping the toss

Could giving the away team the choice of batting or fielding first reduce the scope for overly lopsided contests on pitches heavily skewed in the home side's favour?
May 13, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, SSC, 2nd day

'Sri Lanka, in these conditions, are too good for us' - SA coach Gibson

With three days still to go, and a draw or win unlikely for the visitors, the coach Ottis Gibson said that he wanted his players to compete with pride
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, Colombo

Maharaj's nine-for: South Africa's second-best

The left-arm spinner now has the best bowling figures for any visiting bowler in Sri Lanka
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, SSC, 2nd day

Dimuth Karunaratne builds lead after spinners rout South Africa again

A last-wicket stand of 74 between Akila Dananjaya and Rangana Herath allowed Sri Lanka to cross 300 for the first time in the two-Test series
May 14, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, Colombo

Maharaj buries ghosts of centuries of South Africa's spinners

The left-arm spinner did what no other South African spinner has managed in Sri Lanka - not get punished in spin-friendly conditions
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, Colombo, 1st day

'Really surprised' SA picked only one spinner - Samaraweera

Sri Lanka's batting coach expresses surprise at the composition of South Africa's attack, and says that as the Test goes on, the pitch will turn even more
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, Colombo

Maharaj bags best figures by a visiting bowler in Sri Lanka

The left-arm spinner's 8 for 116 saw him set new benchmarks for his team, and for a bowler against Sri Lanka
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, SSC

South Africa roar back with Maharaj's eight-for

South Africa decided to go in with only one spinner, bringing in Theunis de Bruyn to bolster the batting
May 19, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2nd Test, SSC

Du Plessis wants batsmen to 'trust their defence'

Refrain from attacking too early and await the hittable balls - that's the South Africa captain's motto, ahead of the 2nd Test in Colombo
May 10, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day

Did overthinking Sri Lanka's spin tricks hurt South Africa?

The Galle pitch might not have been as bad as South Africa feared - it has happened before - and in such a situation they did not seem to know how to respond
May 17, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day

Karunaratne reveals strategy to tackle spinners

Karunaratne scored 218 runs on a Galle surface in which no other batsman could manage so much as a half-century, and this is not even his most impressive hundred in tough conditions
May 13, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day

'I'm a big fan of taking away the toss' - Du Plessis

The South Africa captain thinks allowing the visiting team to always decide on whether they want to bat or bowl will bring back some balance to Test cricket
May 14, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day

South Africa's attempt to put pressure back on spinners backfired - du Plessis

The South Africa captain explains what else went wrong for his team in Galle, such as the absence of reverse swing
May 14, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 3rd day

Dimuth Karunaratne 218, South Africa 199

South Africa's second-innings 73 was their lowest total since readmission, while Dilruwan Perera picked up his career-best innings and match figures
May 11, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, 3rd day, Galle

Dilruwan, Herath rout South Africa in three days

South Africa's attack staged an impressive comeback on the third morning in Galle to nip out Sri Lanka's last six wickets for 73 runs but their first-innings deficit has given them a tough task in the final innings
May 13, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day

Thoughts from a fictitious South Africa batsman: This isn't how it was supposed to be in Sri Lanka

A fictitious voice from the South African camp shares his thoughts on the state of affairs after a horrendous second day in Galle
May 12, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day

Karunaratne proved Galle surface not unplayable - Amla

Amla said the visitors need are a 'couple of good partnerships' in the fourth innings to offset Sri Lanka's eventual target
May 14, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 2nd day

Sri Lanka far ahead after spinners hurt South Africa

Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander saved South Africa from registering their lowest total since readmission but they are still starring at a significant deficit
May 11, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, 1st Day, Galle, July 12, 2018

Karunaratne's self-deprecating, myth-busting masterclass

His unbeaten 158 Twas no breakout knock, just another rock in a bank of evidence to suggest his quality as an opening batsman
May 19, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle, 1st day

Herath, Karunaratne help Sri Lanka end tough day on a high

South Africa have gone in with two spinners, including Tabraiz Shamsi to partner Keshav Maharaj, and three pacers
May 11, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle

Sri Lanka depleted by Chandimal absence in opening Test

Sri Lanka will miss their captain, while Dale Steyn fit again and within touching distance of Shaun Pollock's South Africa record
May 16, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle

Rabada will take over from Steyn as spearhead - du Plessis

The South Africa captain backs both quicks to deliver with the reverse-swinging old ball in Sri Lanka
May 11, 2024
Sri Lanka v South Africa, 1st Test, Galle

West Indies tour has prepared us for South Africa's pacers - Roshen Silva

Sri Lanka batsman says the seamer-friendly conditions they faced in their last Test series should hold them in good stead against the visitors' formidable pace attack
May 16, 2024
South Africa in Sri Lanka 2018

'Pretty sure we'll continue with three fast bowlers' - Ottis Gibson

South Africa will continue to trust in their strengths, their coach has said, despite the likelihood of a slow, low turner in the first Test in Galle
May 13, 2024
Sri Lanka Board XI v South Africans, P Sara Oval, 2nd day

Du Plessis, Amla, Bavuma tune up for Galle Test with fifties

South Africa opener Dean Elgar also had a decent workout before the two-day tour match ended in a draw
May 14, 2024
South Africa tour of Sri Lanka 2018-19, warm-up fixture

Shamsi stakes claim for first Test with five-for

Mathews shows form and fitness to make 92 for hosts; Steyn undergoes proper workout on humid day
May 11, 2024
South Africa in Sri Lanka 2018

Faf du Plessis welcomes sternest punishment for ball-tampering, but criticises ICC ambiguity

South Africa captain seeks clarity on what is deemed permissible under new regulations ahead of Sri Lanka series
May 11, 2024