Sri Lanka had a good Test match for a day and a half at Durban after Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and opted to field. Persistent rain had prevented any cricket after the hosts had reached 80-4 on the first day. When play resumed on the second morning, Sri Lanka bowled out South Africa for 191 by lunch.

Captain Temba Bavuma made 70 of these runs, while the second-highest score came from No.10 Keshav Maharaj (24). Asitha Fernando (3-44), Vishwa Fernando (2-35), Lahiru Kumara (3-70), and Prabath Jayasuriya (2-24) shared the wickets.

None of that, however, prepared anyone for what was about to follow after lunch, especially after the Sri Lankan openers were still there 17 balls into the innings. Exactly 11 overs later, Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 42, the lowest total in their history and the third-lowest by any since 1974.

Also read: Explained: Why South Africa-Sri Lanka is a virtual World Test Championship final playoff

At 83 balls, this was the second-shortest all-out innings in Test cricket, after South Africa’s 75-ball 30 against England at Edgbaston in 1924, a century ago.

Kagiso Rabada then drew first blood, having Dimuth Karunaratne caught at slip off the sixth ball of the third over. Marco Jansen then struck once in each of his next three overs, and twice in each of his next two overs to finish with 7-13, the second-best figures by a left-arm fast bowler in Test cricket.

What have we just witnessed here!😱😃
A record lowest innings at Kingsmead here

🇱🇰Sri Lanka are bowled out for 42 (1st Innings)#WozaNawe#BePartOfIt #SAvSL

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) November 28, 2024

Rabada returned 1-10. Gerald Coetzee, who replaced Rabada as the only bowling change of the innings, got 2-18. For the tourists, Kamindu Mendis made 13, while Kumara remained unbeaten on 10.

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