(ESPNCRICINFO) – Ryan Rickelton scored a first Test century in his eighth match and became the eighth batter for South Africa to bring up a hundred in 2024 on an evenly shared day at St George’s Park.
After choosing to bat first in blustery conditions, South Africa teetered on 44 for 3 in the morning session but a 133-run fourth wicket stand between Rickelton and Temba Bavuma, who brought up his third successive score over fifty, saw them take control. They were rocked again at 186 for 5 but Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne put on 77 for the sixth-wicket to re-steady them. Sri Lanka came back with two late wickets in the day and will eye dismissing South Africa for under 300 and making the most of what are expected to be good batting conditions on day two.

Sri Lanka, who wanted to bowl first on a surface with a significant grass covering and got their wish despite losing the toss, will feel fairly pleased with their performance, especially as their seamers asked plenty of questions. Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando found just enough movement upfront while Lahiru Kumara was used effectively in bursts and all three were threatening with the short ball. They were not helped by two chances being put down and a few others falling short. But on what is usually a good batting surface on the first day, they will be pleased with their efforts.

South Africa’s decision not only to include an extra batter but to use Rickelton in his preferred position paid off. This was the first time he has batted in Tests at No. 3, a position where he has a domestic average of 60.68, and he showed his suitability to being higher up the order. Called on as early as the second over Rickelton batted for most of the day. He showed restraint upfront and then pounced on any width. He was dismissed with eight minutes left in the day’s play and would have been disappointed to have played at a Kumara ball outside off and edged to gully but that was after he had demonstrated some of South Africa’s batting depth after an early wobble.

Asitha, who took the new ball after Vishwa, struck with his first ball when he had Tony de Zorzi given out LBW to an inswinging yorker for a duck. De Zorzi reviewed but both impact and wickets-projection were umpire’s calls and the decision stood. Then, Kumara became the fifth Sri Lankan seamer to reach 100 Test wickets when he bowled Aiden Markram, who tried to drive a delivery that nipped back into him to end what could have become a dangerous innings. Markram struck four fours in his 20 and was unafraid to throw his hands at anything wide. Four overs later, Tristan Stubbs, in his first Test

at his home ground, reached for a wide Kumara delivery with hard hands and edged to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who took a good catch moving to his right.