South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has been ruled out of the rest of the Test series against Sri Lanka after suffering a hand injury.
Mulder fractured his right middle finger while batting during the first innings of the series opener in Durban. The incident happened off the first ball of the 27th over off Lahiru Kumara. He was immediately given first aid and resumed batting, only to come off the field at the end of the over. Then he came out to bat when South Africa were reduced to 165-9 and faced five more balls to finish with nine off 12.
He was taken for scans at lunch. "X-rays have confirmed a fracture of the right middle finger. As a result, Wiaan Mulder will not be able to bowl or field for the remainder of the match," South Africa revealed on X. In Mulder's absence, Ryan Rickleton stood as the substitute fielder.
With Mulder confirmed to miss the remaining series, batter Matthew Breetzke, who debuted during South Africa’s 2-0 clean-sweep against Bangladesh last month, has been announced as a replacement.
Despite being restricted to 191 in the first innings, South Africa fought back by bowling out Sri Lanka for a record low of 42. Marco Jansen equalled the world record for the fastest seven-wicket haul. His 7-13 came off 6.5 overs, matching Australia's Hugh Trumble, who took 7-28 in the same number of balls against England in 1904 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Marco Jansen recorded the second-best Test figures by a left-arm seamer as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 42 in Durban 👏
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 28, 2024
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/Qvj3QgqATs#SAvSL pic.twitter.com/4Zz8RUIP06
In the second innings, hundreds from Tristan Stubbs (122) and captain Temba Bavuma (113) helped South Africa set a 516-run target.
Updated South Africa squad for second Sri Lanka squad
Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.
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