South Africa finally ended the wait of 21 years to win a Test series in Sri Lanka on July 28, 2014. With this win, the Protea also went on to continue their unbeaten streak in away Test series from the last eight years. Playing a two-match Test series, South Africa defeated the hosts by 1-0 and won a Test series on the Sri Lankan soil for the first time after 1993. Talking about the series, in the first match in Galle, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 153 runs to take a lead of 1-0 in the series.
Deal Elgar (103) and JP Duminy (100*) shone with respective centuries as the Proteas posted 455/9 in the first innings. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 292 runs with Dale Steyn taking a five-wicket haul. With a lead of 163 runs in the first innings, AB de Villiers went on to score 51 runs in the second innings as South Africa gave Sri Lanka a target of 370 runs to win. After that, Steyn went on to take four wickets again along with Morne Morkel’s four-wicker haul as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 216 runs, resulting South Africa to register a win by 153 runs.
South Africa clinched Test series with a draw in Colombo
Now, coming to the second and the last Test match of the series at Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, the hosts, Sri Lanka had a good outing as they scored 421 runs in the first innings while batting first. Mahela Jayawardene was top scorer with 165(284) runs. In reply, South Africa were bowled out for 282 runs as Sri Lanka took a lead of 139 runs in the first innings.
After that, Sri Lanka posted 229/8 in the second innings giving South Africa a target of 369 runs. Although, the Proteas had a tough time while chasing the target, the match went on to end in a draw while they were at 159/8. With this, South Africa ended 21-year wait to win a Test series in Sri Lanka after 1993.
