Proteas complete Test win against Sri Lanka in Gqeberha to seal series victory

The match was evenly poised heading into the fifth day with the tourists requiring another 143 runs to achieve a record target of 348 while the hosts needed another five wickets.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Medis resumed for Sri Lanka with the total on 205-5 and looking to extend their partnership which was sitting on 83 overnight.

The tourists saw out the first 30 minutes but Maharaj made the breakthrough when the left-arm spinner had Mendis caught at slip by Aiden Markram for 46.

Dhananjaya then went to his fifty but lost his wicket soon after when Kagiso Rabada got the visiting captain to edge behind to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne as the score moved to 225-7.

With the Sri Lanka bowlers now exposed, Maharaj got rid of Prabath Jayasuriya and Vishwa Fernando to complete his five-wicket haul before Marco Jansen sealed the victory with the final wicket of Lahiru Kumara.

The win moves the Proteas to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) table and they now just need a series victory against Pakistan (two matches) at home to book a place in the final at Lord's in June 2025.

The first Test against Pakistan starts on Boxing Day in Centurion with the second game taking place at Newlands from 3 January.

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