South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

The trophy has been presented to Bavuma and the rest of the team join for the celebrations. Lots of happy faces, lots of them singing and the team looks like one solid outfit, happy for each other's success. Two contrasting Tests in Durban and Gqeberha and South Africa have aced both challenges. They're now in pole position to secure one of the final berth for that #WTC25 final at Lord's, but they can't be thinking too far ahead. They've Pakistan coming up very very shortly and that'll be a different challenge. For Sri Lanka, they came back hard after a dismal first innings in Durban, but they still fell well short. Memories of past performances at both these venues have vanished, but they'll certainly take the positives back home. They'll wind up their #WTC25 cycle with a 2-Test series in Galle against Australia and they'll look to finish well. That concludes our coverage of this series, but we'll be back in a little more than 24 hours as South Africa face Pakistan in the first T20I tomorrow. Do join us for all the action. For now, cheers and bye..

Temba Bavuma | South Africa captain | Player of the Series - Firstly, good to be back, was frustrating watching the guys from the sidelines, was good to be amongst them. Was hungry to get back and get the opportunity to be back, happy to have made the most of the opportunities that I got. Durban was tricky on Day 1, conditions overhead, but I just focussed on keeping the scoreboard moving, kept the intent, was fresh mentally and physically and could contribute to the team. This Test match was a proper test of Test cricket, it's not often that you get to play on 5 days. There were times when we were on top, at times Sri Lanka looked good. A lot of credit to them, they really made us work hard, the batting was outstanding with seven of them having made centuries at this level. We'll take a lot of pride as batters, Ashwell (Prince, the batting coach) talks a lot about taking the opportunities, all of us are really happy for Rickelton who took his chances here. Jansen did well in the first Test, Paterson did well here. I think we're doing well as a team, no.1 in the WTC table as of now, don't know what'll happen in the future, but we'll celebrate today, in a couple of weeks, we've Pakistan coming up, we'll have to keep our focus on that and continue on our journey.

Dhananjaya de Silva | Sri Lanka captain - This game was pretty tight, the boys?fought hard and we were in the game till the last day, but it wasn't good enough. Obviously the conditions?are very different to that of home, the bowlers kept asking questions, even the spinners. It was a good challenge, but they were better than us. We played?better cricket, but not good enough to get results in our favour. We are getting better, but we need to spend our 100%, that's what I want my team to?do moving forward. We don't have any set plans for that series as of now (on the upcoming Tests against Australia).?

Dane Paterson | Player of the Match - It feels very good, basically a team MoM, because Rickelton, Bavuma, Maharaj performed well on different days and today KG bowled really well. It's a good feeling, put in the work and get rewarded by bowling long spells. Happy to have won the game, thrilled to win a match that finished on Day 5. We play this game because we love it, I love bowling and coming at the batters everytime, it's just a surreal feeling. It's all sinking in, I didn't notice that I took 3 wickets in an over, everything was happening quickly, but it's a win for the team and we keep marching on.

Stats by Shashikant Singh

Keshav Maharaj's bowling in the 4th innings
Mats: 25
Wkts: 59
Avg: 17.76
SR: 35.5
BBI: 7/32
5-fers: 4

Most 5-fers for South Africa in the 4th innings
5 - Dale Steyn
4 - Hugh Tayfield
4 - Vernon Philander
4 - Kagiso Rabada
4 - Keshav Maharaj*

South Africa at home since December 2020
Tests: 13
Won: 11
Lost: 2 (both vs India)

- The fifth consecutive Test win was for South Africa, and the fourth successive Test victory was for the Proteas over Sri Lanka.

Best figures for South Africa spinners vs Sri Lanka
9/129 - Keshav Maharaj, Colombo (SSC), 2018
5/62 - Nicky Boje, Colombo (SSC), 2000
5/76 - Keshav Maharaj, Gqeberha, 2024*
5/88 - Nicky Boje, Galle, 2004

11:10 Local Time, 09:10 GMT, 14:40 IST: Sri Lanka were competitive for most part of the Test, but they'll look back and rue the dramatic collapse on the third morning, the main reason for the loss here at Gqeberha. On an even-paced pitch, both teams put up a good show in the first innings. While Rickelton's hundred set-up the hosts on the first day, it was Kyle Verreynne's hundred with the tail that really took them to a good score on the second. Pathum Nissanka made 89 in the reply and there were as many as three scores in the 40s in the middle-order, but things fell apart on the third morning as they lost five wickets in the first hour and a bit, ensuring that they ended up with a deficit of 30 runs. South Africa's second dig was more measured and almost everyone?chipped in as they went past 300 once again. Set a record target at this venue, the visitors kept fighting, but they kept losing wickets in clusters and that meant they finished second best. This series loss all but ensures that their #WTC25 final hopes are shattered, but not so for the hosts who move to the top of the table with today's win.?

Marco Jansen to Lahiru Kumara, out Caught by Rickelton!! There's the win for South Africa, they seal the series 2-0 and add 12 vital WTC points. Just one ball for Jansen to complete the formalities today - back of a length and just outside off, Kumara was always looking to use the long handle, backed away on the slog and got a big top-edge, went miles up in the sky and Rickelton called for the catch at short mid-on, he keeps his eyes on the ball, goes reverse cupped and held on even as he tumbled backwards. Lahiru Kumara c Rickelton b Marco Jansen 1(11)

Marco Jansen to Lahiru Kumara, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Marco Jansen [10.0-1-54-0] is back into the attack

Maharaj to Asitha Fernando, no run, Maharaj tosses one on off, a half-press forward in defence

Asitha Fernando, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Maharaj to Vishwa Fernando, out Caught by Marco Jansen!! There's the five for Maharaj - he's chuffed to bits and he's deserved every bit of this. Was a nicely tossed up delivery on off, Fernando saw the flight and went for the big slog-sweep, but he's undone by the turn and slices it high towards long-on. Jansen under it and he doesn't drop those. South Africa just one wicket away now. Vishwa Fernando c Marco Jansen b Maharaj 5(24)

Maharaj to Vishwa Fernando, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Maharaj to Lahiru Kumara, 1 run, flighted delivery on off, Kumara comes down the pitch, is undone by the flight and drags it wide of mid-wicket for a single

Maharaj, from over the wicket

Maharaj to Lahiru Kumara, no run, tossed up and drifting into the left-hander, Kumara let the ball hit the pad and lobbed to Zorzi at backward short leg

FSL moves across to backward short-leg

Maharaj to Lahiru Kumara, no run, tossed up just outside off - Kumara leans well forward in defence