South Africa boost WTC hopes with Sri Lanka win

GQEBERHA, South Africa:

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 109 runs on the last morning of the second cricket Test at St George's Park and swept the series 2-0 yesterday.

The odds favoured South Africa, which needed five more wickets, while Sri Lanka needed 143 more runs in a chase of 348 and their last recognised batters were in the middle.

The Proteas ended the fightback of captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis in the first half-hour, exposed the tail, and finished off Sri Lanka for 238 before lunch.

Spinner Keshav Maharaj took three of the five wickets and achieved his 11th career five-wicket haul, 5-76.

South Africa also consolidated their hopes of qualifying for a first World Test Championship (WTC) final by moving to the top of the standings with two more home Tests to come against Pakistan, starting on December 26.

"WTC table looks good," Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said. "Want to continue what we're doing, enjoy the victory, and in a couple of weeks' time start speaking about Pakistan."

Mendis, 39 overnight, left for 46, and ended a 97-run comeback with de Silva.

De Silva, also 39 overnight, reached his 18th Test 50 and second of the series, but two balls later edged pacer Kagiso Rabada behind.

The tail held out for eight more overs as Sri Lanka plummeted from 205-5 overnight to 238 all out.

South Africa won the first Test in Durban by 233 runs, including bowling out Sri Lanka for 42.

- AP