Keshav Maharaj became only the second South Africa bowler to take nine wickets in an innings in the second Test against Sri Lanka.
The Proteas have their back to the wall in the encounter after also losing the first five-dayer by 278 runs, with Maharaj’s career-best figures of 9/129 being the only reason for a smile today.
After taking eight wickets on Friday, the 28-year-old ended his nine-wicket haul by removing Rangana Herath on Saturday morning.
The only spinner in the team for the second Test, Maharaj bowled more than 40 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings of 338.
The Proteas then crumbled for 124 all out in reply, before Maharaj again bowled 40 over for three wickets before the hosts declared on 275/5 to leave SA a grand total of 490 to chase for the win.
The big problem for South Africa in this Test was the lack of another recognised spinner as the seamers simply failed to support Maharaj, who had to bowl more than 80 overs in the match for his 12 wickets.
Dale Steyn failed to take a single wickets in the match, leaving him stuck alongside Shaun Pollock as SA’s leading wicket-taker.
Not having a spin partner, Maharaj says he is used to holding up one end on his own.
After bagging his nine wickets for bowling figures second only to that of Hugh Tayfield – 9/113 v England in 1957, Maharaj says: “Accolades mean a lot more when you can get the team to win a Test match.
“I did get a little bit of assistance off the wicket.
“It is a little bit different here [in Colombo] to Galle, the ball skids on, which showed with the lbw and top-edges off the sweep.
“I feel I also did beat some of the batsmen in the air with the ball dipping on them.
“South Africa have always played one spinner back home.
“I am used to doing the holding job.”