South African players celebrate a wicket against Sri Lanka. — AFP

South African captain Temba Bavuma expressed that his team's 109-run victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka at St George's Park on Monday marked a significant stride for a squad largely composed of young, inexperienced players. "For many of the players, it was a genuine experience of what Test cricket entails," Bavuma remarked about the closely contested match that extended into the fifth day. "It's uncommon to play for five days, and it's equally rare for the game to remain in balance throughout. There were moments when we dominated and times when Sri Lanka seized the momentum."

The victory propelled South Africa to the top of the World Test Championship standings, which are determined by the average points earned. South Africa can secure their qualification for the final at Lord's in England next June if they triumph over Pakistan in a two-match series commencing on December 26. "The championship table looks promising," Bavuma stated during the post-match presentation. "We find ourselves at the top with two games remaining. I'm not sure about the exact calculations, but we're playing excellent cricket and aim to sustain this form."

Bavuma was honored as the player of the series after amassing 327 runs in four innings, including a century and three fifties, but he emphasized that other team members were also making crucial contributions. Three South African players scored centuries, and three bowlers achieved five-wicket hauls, with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj taking five for 76 to clinch Monday's win. "It's always a positive sign when players deliver match-winning performances. It reflects the hunger and determination within the team."

Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva acknowledged that his team had improved compared to their performance in Durban, where they were defeated by 233 runs after being dismissed for 42 in the first innings. "The guys fought hard, but it wasn't sufficient," De Silva said. "South Africa's bowling attack consistently posed challenges." De Silva noted that Sri Lanka was gradually improving in away Test matches. "We're making progress, but we need to enhance every aspect by 100 percent," he stated.

Sri Lanka lost their remaining five wickets for 33 runs on Monday. Their aspirations for an upset win were dashed when overnight batsmen De Silva and Kusal Mendis were dismissed within the first 10 overs of the day. De Silva and Mendis, the team's last recognized batsmen, resumed on 205 for five, still requiring 143 runs to win. Maharaj made the initial breakthrough when Mendis edged a low catch to Aiden Markram at slip, scoring 46 in a 97-run partnership with De Silva. Kagiso Rabada then caught De Silva behind for 50, exposing Sri Lanka's tail. The final three wickets fell swiftly, with Maharaj claiming two more wickets and Marco Jansen sealing the match with his first ball of the day when Lahiru Kumara was caught off a wild slog.

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