South Africa have now won four tests in a row and remain on course for a place in the World Test Championship final. They must win at least two of their three remaining tests in the 2024-25 cycle against Sri Lanka next week in Gqeberha and Pakistan shortly afterwards in Pretoria and Cape Town.

South Africa’s lanky speedster Marco Jansen took the last two wickets as the hosts won the first Test against Sri Lanka by 233 runs yesterday but had to toil hard to break

Though the tourists put up a gutsy fight on day four, the Proteas coasted to a 233-run victory over Sri Lanka with more than a day to spare in the opening Test in Durban on Saturday. Resuming their second innings at 103/5 in the morning session, still needing 413 runs to win with only five wickets in hand, Sri Lanka’s batters dug deep.