RSA VS SL - 1st Test, Sri Lanka tour of South Africa, 2020-21

It is a winning start to Quinton de Kock's captaincy regime. He took his time and grew into the role as the game progressed but the win at the end would certainly boost his confidence going into the next Test and future series. Also, it gives them important points in the WTC and keeps their chances alive. As for Sri Lanka, they will first have to see if there are XI fit guys for the next Test before going to the drawing boards. Their batsmen did pretty well considering they hadn't played red-ball cricket for a while. It is the toothless bowling that needs a serious rejig. Hopefully the new year will bring them some new luck. On that note it is time to draw the curtains on a frantic year, this is Akshay Maanay signing off on behalf of MS Ramakrishnan and Sagar Chawla. See you all in 2021. Cheers!

De Kock | South Africa captain: Feels very good. (Winning a) Test match never easy. Were disappointed after day 1 with our bowling performance. But came back well the other day. In the third innings, the boys came out with great intent with the ball. Getting off to a great start always helps the team. The way they came out and showed intent (Elgar and Markram), it filtered to the rest of the team. The way we came out and bowled today especially, the guys showed how well they can bowl. Holding their areas a lot longer. That's what we'll take forward. It was exactly that - the over rate (starting with spin after lunch).

Dimuth Karunaratne | Sri Lanka captain: We were in the driver's seat, not easy to score 400 here. We did well as a batting unit, unfortunately we lost a couple of bowlers which is why we ended up this way. We couldn't play Lakmal because of injury. We need to have a positive mindset, not worried about the injuries. Vishwa Fernando, Dasun did well whenever turned to them in the absence of Kumara and Dhananjaya. That's a positive sign for us. We will look to do well at the Wanderers.

Faf du Plessis | Man of the Match: It was a good one. I thought we bowled okay on day one, pretty disappointed. But to start the second innings, 400 down and to come back like that it shows good character from our batting unit. Very proud of my CV as it says 199, little disappointed (missing the double) but happy that the team got the win.The important thing for us as a batting unit was that we started well, the opening pair made life easy for the rest of us. Coming to the crease I took my time and got used to the pitch, then later started getting a move on. We had to work together as a partnership, myself and Temba started building on that and once the partnership starts growing then the big score looks closer. It was a pretty good pitch, Test match pitch. I thought there was always something in it for the bowlers if you hit the channel. Both teams did not bowl as they would have liked. Credit to the groundsman for an even contest between bat and ball. I have been feeling good to the lead up. I had a good IPL and carried that form. It was just about making sure of getting back to basics and being specific on the game plan.

13:07 Local Time, 11:07 GMT, 16:37 IST: Nobody would have expected this after Sri Lanka finished day one at 340 for 6. But things started going downhill for them from that day itself. The 100+ stand between Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva was broken due to an injury to the latter and that started a trend which only got worse. Rajitha limped off having bowled just 13 balls and Kumara, after having toiled on day two, broke down on the third day. Hasaranga and Chandimal too needed some medical attention but it was not serious enough to rule them out entirely from the Test. So, along with all these obstacles Sri Lanka also lacked disciplined with the ball, allowing South Africa to score at a brisk rate and amass a lead of 225. Faf du Plessis, the most experienced South African batsman, made the most of this weak bowling attack and notched up his highest Test score. Bowling to a depleted side with a massive lead, the hosts need early wickets which Ngidi provided. Mulder got into the act in the morning session today and put them on the path to victory, while Sipamla and Nortje finished the formalities. Hang around for the presentations..

Nortje to Rajitha, out Caught by Maharaj!! South Africa cruise to a thumping victory. It is an innings victory for the Proteas and it is all smiles in their camp. The players congratulate each other and walk away carrying stumps as souvenirs. Nortje went short and at the body, Rajitha takes his eyes off and leaves his hands in front to bail him out of trouble, the ball flies off the glove towards gully where Maharaj jumps up to take the catch. Rajitha c Maharaj b Nortje 0(27)

Nortje to Rajitha, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Sipamla to Kumara, no run, attacks the stumps this time, Kumara brings his bat down and turns it to mid-wicket

Sipamla to Kumara, no run, this is a repeat of the previous ball. Sipamla goes full and close to off, Kumara has a tentative poke and is beaten by a mile or so

Sipamla to Kumara, no run, fuller and around off, Kumara is nowhere close to the line of the ball as he has a poke, beaten on the outside edge

Sipamla to Kumara, no run, another short ball and this time Kumara takes it on, attempts the hook/pull and is beaten on the top-edge

Sipamla to Kumara, no ball, Sipamla to Kumara, no run, bouncer angled in from round the wicket, Kumara ducks and evades it. Late call by the umpire for an overstep..

Sipamla to Hasaranga, out Caught by Bavuma!! It was only a matter of time. Hasaranga was taking his chances and de Kock had spread the field out. He picks out the fielder in the deep while trying a big shot. Good length ball around off, Hasaranga makes room and slams it straight down long-off's throat. Bavuma was well in from the boundary rope and he makes no mistake. Hasaranga c Bavuma b Sipamla 59(53) [4s-12 6s-1]

Sipamla to Hasaranga, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Sipamla to Hasaranga, no run, keeps low around off, Hasaranga jams it onto his pad as he looks to tuck it into the leg-side. He expected the ball to bounce more but it didn't

Nortje to Rajitha, no run, leg-lined delivery, Rajitha turns his back and still manages to clip it to fine leg

Nortje to Rajitha, no run, fuller and angled across off, Rajitha drives it to silly point and Elgar is struck before he could even move his hands

Nortje to Rajitha, no run, short ball around the chest, Rajitha fends it off the glove and luckily it goes to ground

Now a silly point comes in

Nortje to Rajitha, no run, does not get the bounce to trouble Rajitha, just below the hip and he tucks it past short leg