The hosts Sri Lanka thrashed the visiting team South Africa in the first Test of the two-match Test series at Galle.

After Sri Lankan captain Suranga Lakmal decided to bat first, Sri Lanka scored 287 runs, thanks to the opener Dimuth Karunaratne’s unbeaten 158-run knock.

In reply, South Africa was bowled out for just 126 runs and Sri Lanka had a big lead of 161 runs at the end of the first innings fight.

Sri Lanka was all out for 190 runs in their second innings and put a 352-run target in the front of South Africa. In reply, the South African team was collapsed on just 73 runs as Sri Lanka won the game by 278 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

Also read: India tour of England 2018 (ODI series): Second ODI – Stats Review

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka – 287 (Dimuth Karunaratne 158*, Danushka Gunathilaka 26; Kagiso Rabada 4/50) & 190 (Dimuth Karunaratne 60, Angelo Matthews 35; Keshav Maharaj 4/58)

South Africa – 126 (Faf du Plessis 49, Vernon Philander 18; Dilruwan Perera 4/46) & 73 (Vernon Philander 22*, Aiden Markram 19; Dilruwan Perera 6/32)

Result – Sri Lanka won by 278 runs

Here are some of the statistical highlights of the match:

i) Sri Lankan opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne scored unbeaten 158 runs in the first innings

• Highest knock in a Test innings by a Sri Lankan opening batsman against South Africa. The previous record was 148 by Sanath Jayasuriya at Galle in July 2000.
• Fourth Sri Lankan opening batsman to carry bat through a completed Test innings. The first three Sri Lankan batsmen were Sidath Wettimuny, Marvan Atapattu and Russel Arnold.

ii) South Africa was bowled out for just 126 runs in their first innings.

• At that time, it was the lowest completed total for South Africa in a Test innings against Sri Lankan. Their previous record was 168 at Durban in December 2011.

iii) After scoring 158* in the first innings, Sri Lankan opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne also scored 60 runs in their second innings.

• The second Sri Lankan opening batsman to play 50+ knocks in both innings of a Test match against South Africa. The first Sri Lankan opening batsman to achieve this feat was Marvan Atapattu (60 & 71) at Cape Town in March 1998.

iv) South Africa was bowled out for just 73 runs in their second innings.

• Lowest completed total for South Africa in a Test innings against Sri Lanka.
• Since rejoining in 1991, it was the lowest completed Test innings total for South Africa. Their previous lowest one was 79 against India at Nagpur in November 2015.

v) Sri Lankan off-spinner Dilruwan Perera had a bowling figure of 14-4-32-6 in the fourth innings of the Test match.

• The second best bowling figure in the fourth innings of a Test match by a Sri Lankan bowler against South Africa. The record is 18-8-29-6 by Chaminda Vass at Colombo (SSC) in August 2004.
• Fourth best bowling figure in a Test innings by a Sri Lankan bowler against South Africa.   

vi) At the end of the game, Sri Lankan off-spinner Dilruwan Perera had an overall bowling figure of 37-12-78-10.

• After Muttiah Muralitharan (four times), Dilruwan Perera is the second Sri Lankan bowler to claim a 10-wicket haul in a Test match against South Africa.
• Fourth best Test match bowling figure by a Sri Lankan bowler against South Africa.

vii) Sri Lanka won by 278 runs.

• The second largest Test victory (by runs) for Sri Lanka against South Africa. The largest one was 313 runs at Colombo (SSC) in August 2004.