During the second day of the first Test in Durban, Sri Lanka faced a historic collapse, finishing their innings at just 42 runs against South Africa. This total became the lowest ever recorded by Sri Lanka's men’s team in Test cricket history, surpassing their previous low of 71 runs against Pakistan in 1994. The innings lasted only 13.5 overs, marking it as one of the shortest in men's Test history, with a mere 83 balls faced.
South Africa had set the stage with a first-innings score of 191, led by Temba Bavuma’s impressive 70 runs. Marco Jansen delivered a stunning performance, achieving his best Test figures with 7 wickets for just 13 runs in 6.5 overs. Alongside him, Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada contributed with 2 and 1 wicket respectively.
With Sri Lanka's innings ending swiftly, South Africa ended day two at 132 for 3, holding a substantial lead of 281 runs. As the series progresses, Sri Lanka faces the daunting task of winning both Tests against South Africa, in addition to defeating Australia in their following series, to improve their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final. South Africa, meanwhile, has the opportunity to secure their own spot, requiring victories against both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their upcoming matches. Currently, Sri Lanka sits third in the World Test Championship standings, while South Africa occupies the fifth position.