Sri Lanka Registers Lowest Test Score in Men’s Team History, Bowled Out for 42

In Durban, eight of Sri Lanka’s batters were dismissed for three runs or fewer, including five ducks, during the first Test’s second day. The match saw South Africa score 191 (Bavuma 70; A Fernando 3-44) in their first innings and reach 132-3 (Markram 47) in their second. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 42, with K Mendis contributing 13 runs, while Jansen took 7-13. South Africa currently holds a lead of 281 runs. Sri Lanka was dismissed for a total of 42 runs by South Africa in Durban, marking the lowest Test total ever recorded by their men’s team. Responding to South Africa’s initial score of 191, Sri Lanka’s innings concluded after just 13.5 overs on the second day of the inaugural Test. Marco Jansen achieved his career-best Test bowling figures, securing 7-13 from 6.5 overs. Gerald Coetzee (2-18) and Kagiso Rabada (1-10) accounted for the remaining wickets. The previous lowest Test innings for Sri Lanka’s men’s team was 71 against Pakistan in Kandy in 1994. A team has been bowled out for fewer than 42 runs in men’s Test cricket on only eight prior occasions. In Sri Lanka’s innings, Kamindu Mendis (13) and Lahiru Kumara (10) were the sole batters to reach double figures. Their innings spanned 83 balls, making it the second shortest in men’s Test history for a team that has been bowled out. The shortest such innings remains South Africa’s, who were bowled out for 30 runs from 75 balls by England at Edgbaston in 1924. At stumps, South Africa had advanced to 132-3, establishing a lead of 281 runs. To secure their spot in the final of the World Test Championship, Sri Lanka must defeat South Africa in both matches of the current two-Test series and also overcome Australia in both Tests scheduled for the New Year. Achieving three wins and one defeat from these final four Tests of the two-year cycle could potentially be sufficient for them to qualify for the final. South Africa also has a path to the final; winning both Tests against Sri Lanka and achieving a clean sweep in their two Tests against Pakistan in December and January would guarantee their qualification. Alternatively, three wins and a draw from those four Tests could also be enough for the Proteas. In the World Test Championship standings, Sri Lanka currently occupies the third position, while South Africa is ranked fifth.