[Watch] Tony de Zorzi takes a stunning reflex catch at short leg on day three of SA vs SL 1st Test
South African opener Tony de Zorzi plucked an absolute stunner at short leg to end Day 3 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Kingsmead in Durban. Prabath Jayasuriya, the batter in question, was left stunned as the last ball of the day produced a wicket, leaving the tourists reeling on November 29.
The dismissal occurred in the 30th over of the innings as Kagiso Rabada sent down a full delivery on middle and leg. Jayasuriya looked to have middled it but De Zorzi's reflex action meant that he put up his hand and the ball stuck, with the South Africans hounding him.
It was also Rabada's second wicket of the innings as the pace spearhead had earlier dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne in the fifth over. The Lankans found themselves five down by the end of the day with 103 on the board, needing an improbable 516 for victory. Marco Jansen dismissed Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis, while Gerald Coetzee nipped out Pathum Nissanka.
Tony de Zorzi falls cheaply in both innings but South Africa flex their batting muscles
De Zorzi managed only 21 runs across two innings in Durban. Despite his failure, South Africa were head and shoulders ahead of Sri Lanka in that department as skipper Temba Bavuma led from the front. His 70 propelled the hosts to 191, whichproved to be an above-par score as the tourists folded for 42, led by Jansen's seven-for.
The 34-year-old followed it up with a classy hundred in the second innings, with Tristan Stubbs also making a three-figure score. The Proteas declared their innings immediately after Bavuma perished. With South Africa on track for a win, their World Test Championship final (WTC) chances will also be boosted.
Sri Lanka were also in with an opportunity to play in the WTC final next year but their chances could be significantly dented with a defeat in Durban.