SL VS RSA - 2nd Test, South Africa tour of Sri Lanka, 2018

South Africa taste life post-ABD, it was an utterly bitter one. But to be honest, even the great man wouldn't have made any difference to the final outcome of the series. They need to sort out their mental demons before coming back to the sub-continent again for red ball cricket. So, another series where hosts thoroughly dominated the visitors. This has been the trend over the last decade or so. Kohli and company would look to defy this when they take on England at Edgbaston on the first of August. Do not forget to join us for that mouth-watering series. Until then, this is Varun Dixit signing off on behalf of Abhinand and Sultan.

Suranga Lakmal: "We worked really hard and the results are due to the hard work of the team. Sri Lanka has some of the best spinners in the world and that is the reason they have troubled the South African batsmen. I am not thinking too far about the captaincy as it is a team game."

Dimuth Karunaratne, Man of the Match and Man of the Series: "I did really well in the series so I was sure I will be the man of the series. For the first few overs it came nicely onto the bat but old ball spun a lot. I stick to my basics and try to get maximum runs. We always take series by series, now we will prepare for the England series and then we will prepare for New Zealand and then Australia."

Faf du Plessis: "The guys played well in the last innings, de Bruyn played an exceptional knock and showed it is possible to get big runs in these conditions. Credit to Sri Lanka, they were outstanding. They beat us in all departments of the game that we played in the last eight days. We have some lessons to learn but we did manage to put in some good performance. Keshav Maharaj was exceptional, he put up a record bowling performance for South Africa. He has a good future ahead of him. For Sri Lanka, there wasn't 6 or 7 batsmen putting runs on the board there were just one or two. That's what you need. Right through the series we failed to get partnerships. We only got 3 fifty plus partnerships right through the series and that is very low. Looking at the wicket, we definitely would have played an extra spinner, our thinking was it is an abrasive surface and ball will reverse. There was zero reverse swing. It is a lesson to learn, when we come to sub-continent we need to pick an extra spinner as pitches are very dry. So, It was a mistake on our part not to play an extra spinner."

Rangana Herath: "Winning the game and winning the series, against the number two side - very pleased with it. Wherever you go and take wickets, you like the ground, especially SSC. The harder ball gives a bit of assistance for the spinners. Spinners bowled really well throughout the series. I know everybody has a time to go. That's why I have decided to stop playing cricket. Hopefully, in the series against England, I will do my best."

The toss was pivotal, Sri Lanka won and their openers piled on runs. Maharaj had an exceptional match, he ended with 12 wickets in the match and 9 in the first innings but he had no support from the other end. The part-time spinners weren't penetrative enough and the pitch had absolutely nothing in it for the fast bowlers. The prodigious turn on offer was always going to trouble South Africans and their first innings was bundled out in a haste. The handy contributions from Karunaratne and Mathews in the second innings ensured that they set an impossible total for Proteas to chase. South Africa aided by luck showed resistance, the performance of de Bruyn and Bavuma was certainly a positive for them to take out of this series. They toiled hard but the great man Rangana Herath was too hot to handle, he finished things off in style for the hosts and handed them a comfortable victory. Time for the presentations.

13:24 Local Time, 07:54 GMT, 13:24 IST: Handshakes and hugs all around as players make their way back into the dressing room. Sri Lankan have decimated the Proteas again who need to dig deep and introspect hard about their plan to counter spin on these rough sub-continent pitches. They clearly weren't upto the mark on this tour. Though they saved their best for the last innings of the tour. Good resistance from de Bruyn and Bavuma on the final day but it was never enough. For Sri Lanka, this might be their rebirth, they have been dismal in the past couple of years but the comprehensive manner of victory would do a world of difference to the confidence of the young guns.

Sandeep: Theunis de Bruyn , you beauty! The kind of an innings a decent player from the subcontinent or an absolute overseas genius can play. A deserved 100

Herath to Steyn, out Caught by Gunathilaka!! That's it! Sri Lanka whitewash South Africa 2-0. A comfortable victory margin of 199 runs for the hosts. Steyn wanted to replicate his glory shot, he again fails to reach the pitch and was deceived by the turn. He got the elevation but not distance, ball was in the air for an eternity but when it came down it met the safe hands of Gunathilaka who makes no mistake. Steyn c Gunathilaka b Herath 6(6) [6s-1]

Herath to Steyn, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Herath to Steyn, no run, inside edge to FSL, Herath appeals but umpire was unmoved

Herath to Steyn, no run, comes on the front foot and blocks it back

Herath to Steyn, no run, past the outside edge

Herath to Steyn, SIX, now time for Steyn to flaunt his power hitting prowess. He doesn't reach the pitch of the ball but still goes through with the shot, bat turns in his hands too but he puts enough muscles to send it over the ropes

Dilruwan Perera to Lungi Ngidi, FOUR, tossed up delivery outside off, Lungi Ngidi was enticed by it, he clears his front leg to make room and dispatches it over mid-wicket for a boundary

Dilruwan Perera to Lungi Ngidi, no run, defends it back again

Dilruwan Perera to Lungi Ngidi, no run, flighted and at the stumps, defended back

Dilruwan Perera to Lungi Ngidi, no run, huge appeal for caught behind! It went past the outside edge and into the gloves of Dickwella. Don't think there was an edge

Lungi Ngidi, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Dilruwan Perera to Rabada, out Caught by Mathews!! Dilruwan Perera gets into the act too. I am afraid to say, end is near for South Africa. Drags his length back a touch on this flighted delivery, this new ball turned and bounced a little extra, kisses the outside edge who used delicate hands to counter it but still wasn't able to keep it down. It settles into the hands of Mathews at slip. Rabada c Mathews b Dilruwan Perera 18(37) [4s-2 6s-1]

Dilruwan Perera to Rabada, THATS OUT!! Caught!!