By Srian Obeyesekere
Opening batsman Pathum Nissanka rose from a first test rut to be the pantheon battling a fiery South African pace attack to a resolute 89 spanning 157 balls to taking Sri Lanka to a satisfying 243 for 3 in response to the hosts first iñnings 358 after the Lanka. bowlers lost a second day bout of gaining the upper hand of running through the Proteas last three wickets from an overnight 269 for 7 with wicket keeper batsman Kyle Verreynne riding his overnight 48 to a bliste
ring maiden undefeated century at St. George’s Park, Gqeberha yesterday.

Nissanka stood tall wading off the South African bowlers to being third out with Sri Lanka on the stroke of 200 when he was bowled by Keshav Maharaj having struck 11 boundaries and a six. He added 41 for the first wicket with a circumspect Dimuth Karunaratne who made 20 off 48 balls hitting 3 boundaries. Karunaratne was gone edging Kagiso Rabada to stumper Verreynne.
Nissanka was joined by Dinesh Chandimal who made 44 off 97 striking 6 boundaries who was dismissed by Dane Peterson who had him edging to the wicket keeper.

Full credit to Angelo Mathews who used all his experience to seeing Sri Lanka through to stumps on 30 off 71 with 3 boundaries in a lending atom of 49 to Nissanka for the third wicket. With him was Kamindu Mendis on 30 off 38 crossing the boundary thrice.

The early part was decorated by Verreynne wading to a maiden century batting with the tail hammering 12 boundaries and 3 over the top in a 133-ball bludgeoning to putting the hosts on an equitable position.