South Africa edge ahead on rain wrecked day

Were this a heavyweight boxing bout, something it thankfully hasn't become despite some ordinary umpiring once again, it would have involved much sparring but few knockout punches. With the stakes so high the teams have become somewhat introverted in their approach, content to wait for their opponent to make the fatal mistake.

Since the dismissal of Jayasuriya the game has crawled along. The Sri Lankan batsmen, usually so flamboyant, batted in pensive fashion throughout the day. Becalmed by a South African spin bowler who was deemed too defensive by some to succeed against Sri Lankan batsmen.

If South Africa win this series, a distinct possibility now with a 49 run lead and ten second innings wickets remaining, then Nicky Boje deserves great credit for his contribution. In Kandy he scored 27 priceless runs in South African's second innings and then chipped in with 3 for 24 to seal the game.

Then, in this match, he once again scored vital runs before restricting Sri Lanka to 258. Picking up five wickets for the second time in his five match career he was chiefly responsible for his teams 22 run lead. Bowling accurately and patiently with surprising guile, he extracted dangerous turn from the wicket and troubled all the Sri Lankan batsmen to finish with 5 for 62 from 34 overs.

His coach, Graham Ford, paid tribute to his hard endeavors after the close of play: "Nicky has done really well, he has worked extremely hard over the past days and he is a very dedicated cricketer. He is learning all the time and always asking questions. The hard work has paid off."

His spinning partner, Paul Adams, must be wondering why he was picked. He was not asked to bowl one over on a sharply turning wicket. He may still yet play a crucial role in the second innings. That is if the rain relents.

Play was delayed by 90 minutes in the morning due to heavy overnight rains and then curtailed prematurely when a heavy monsoon storm drenched the ground. In all 43 overs were lost and the interruptions now threaten a result in this deciding test match.

When play did commence Mahela Jayawardene (34) begun confidently, pulling Mornantau Hayward majestically and then straight driving Nicky Boje down the ground. He survived the hour before lunch but only by the skin of his teeth.

He looked to have been LBW to Boje when on 18 and 19 but Umpire B.C. Cooray has been reluctant to make decisions throughout, aware that with the spotlight on him, a bad not out will cause less fracas than a dubious decision.

Chaminda Vaas (5) dourly hung in there with his partner, but on the stroke of lunch was adjudged LBW to Shaun Pollock. The wicket brought Arjuna Ranatunga to the crease, much to the delight of the school children that have patiently clutched their portrait photos of a man whom they may have seen little but heard a great deal.

They waved and cheered their hero to the crease but couldn't replicate his golden innings in Kandy. Having scored 14 runs from 51 deliveries he missed a sweep and was bowled by Boje.

Mahela Jayawardene had by then departed too. Another player with great talent but an apparently endless capacity to frustrate, he charged Boje when well set and skewered a simple catch to Gary Kirsten to point.

Kumar Sangakkara (25) reached the twenties for the third time in the series but also failed to go on and make a significant contribution after flashing wildly at Hayward moments before the new ball was taken,

Eight wickets down for 223, the Sri Lankans will at least be grateful that Upul Chandana (32) and Ruchira Perera (10) were able to add 34 precious runs. However Sri Lanka were still left 22 runs adrift. This was stretched to 49 when the openers faced eight overs without alarm in the evening session.

Speaking afterwards Graham Ford said: "I am very proud of the way the guys have stuck to the task, particularly because of what they have been through in the last few months. Throughout the tour they have keep on fighting despite having a few setbacks from time to time and have showed a tremendous spirit and fight."

What a turnaround in the space of ten days. Indeed one senses that they have the momentum now. The Sri Lankans have gone into their shells and their confidence appears to be on the wane.