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South Africa moved a step closer to the World Test Championship final with a 109-run victory over Sri Lanka in Gqeberha.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Proteas needed just 14.1 overs to take the five remaining Sri Lanka wickets on day five in the Eastern Cape and secure a 2-0 series win that takes them above Australia to the top of the WTC table., external<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Temba Bavuma’s side will guarantee their place in the Lord’s final in June if they win both Tests in their two-match series against Pakistan that begins on Boxing Day.<\/p>\n Sri Lanka opened the day on 205-5, needing another 143 to win at St George’s Park, with Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis continuing a stand that had reached 83 on day four.<\/p>\n However, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj broke the partnership in the fourth over of the day as Mendis edged to slip.<\/p>\n Kagiso Rabada had Dhananjaya caught behind 14 balls later and the tourists quickly crumbled to 238 all out – the last five wickets going down for 19 runs.<\/p>\n Maharaj took three of the wickets to fall on the fifth morning to complete his 11th five-wicket haul in Tests.<\/p>\n Centuries from Kyle Verreyne and Ryan Rickelton helped set up the victory for South Africa, while 35-year-old seamer Dane Paterson claimed his maiden Test five-to earn them a narrow first-innings lead.<\/p>\n Bavuma and Aiden Markram then made half-centuries in the hosts’ second innings to set a challenging target of 348 that ultimately proved beyond Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n