Bavuma, Rickelton nullify SL's early strikes

Sri Lanka struck thrice in the morning session on Day 1 at St George's Park but a steady, unbeaten stand of 38 runs between Temba Bavuma and Ryan Rickelton helped South Africa to 82 for 3 at Lunch.

Opting to bat, South Africa were pegged back early with Asitha Fernando catching Toni de Zorzi unaware off the very first ball. The South African opener missed a low toss while looking to flick and was hit on the pads. Sri Lankans celebrated even before appealing, yet Zorzi took a review and was declared out on umpire's call.

Even as there was movement on offer for the pacers, Aiden Markram cracked a couple of boundaries in the next over off Fernando and got South Africa's innings moving. Markram, who looked well in control for a while, was undone by an nipbacker from Lahiru Kumara which beat him for pace and cleaned him up, handing the pacer his 100th Test wicket.

Soon enough, Kumara had even Tristan Stubbs sent back to the pavilion. While looking to pounce on a short and widish delivery, he edged one to the 'keeper, reducing the hosts to 44 for 3. While Rickleton remained subdued in his approach, Bavuma was quick to pounce on the run-scoring opportunities.

He was especially quick to target the area between point and third, cracking three boundaries off Prabath Jayasuriya and Fernando through that region. When Fernando challenged him with a short delivery, he even pulled it for a four. The most emphatic of the shots though was when he rocked on to his backfoot to pull Jayasuriya for a six in the last over before Lunch.

Brief Scores: South Africa 82/3 (Ryan Rickleton 29*, Temba Bavuma 27*; Lahiru Kumara 2-17) vs Sri Lanka