Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 1st Test at Galle, , Jul 16 2014 - Ball by Ball Commentary

So that's this Test done and dusted. Join us on Thursday in Colombo. South Africa have answered a lot of questions about their potency in the subcontinent. Will they continue the momentum in the capital, or will Mathews get his wish and his batters step up? I'll let you guys be the judge. This is Alagappan Muthu, fading away into the darkness

"It's not easy, credit to the boys, they put the hands up today. We had a challenging third overs last night but they came back and did really well,"Hashim Amla says, "didn't doubt the declaration, we needed a lot of overs and 370 was good enough I thought. The toss was pretty crucial. It was pretty difficult in the third and fourth innings. Dean got a hundred, JP got one as well and they set it up. Steyn, Morkel, Philander, I can call them at any time and they would give 100%. They're the best. On surfaces like this you can't rely on one bowler. The others did well too. It was a group effort. On a different day, a glove, a top edge could have gone. The spinners did well"

Dale Steyn is the Man of the Match Collects it in some snazzy shades. "It's never easy, but someones got to do it. I look at myself as someone who tries to build the character of the side and the captain turns to me. Short spells, two three overs. Have to conserve the energy. hashim rotated us well and the spinners did well as well. Our side's pretyt good, great team with great cricketers and when you play with guys like AB, Faf, Amla, Philander, JP, it brings the best out of you"

2.15 pm "South Africans outplayed us on all five days and that's why they are the No.2 team. It was a disappointing peformance, dont mind losing games after good cricket but this game we were disappointing," Angelo Mathews says. "We were pretty flat, the heat gets to us too. It's going to hard work winning a Test and well all know that but South Africa got the better of us. The first innings total cost us the game, if we had added a bit more runs we could have been in with a chance. The batter need to improve when we go to SSC"

mahmudmoni: "when SL were 138/1, I made a comment that next 100 runs would be crucial. now, SL made a blunder, SA did what they are best. Fierce pace crushed SL. Well done SA."

chinthaka: "Thirimanne and Chandimal struggling to get substantial scores ?? so what about DPMD?" He got two peaches that outdid him

Sri Lanka did amazingly well last evening, so well that talks of a poor declaration was making the rounds. Sanga and Kaushal recorded the first 100 partnership of this tour, but today the visitors adjusted their plans and their intensity forced the home side on the back foot and smothered them. Angelo Mathews tried to lead a rearguard, but he just didn't have enough company. He will also have to fend off a few queries about the state of the middle order, with Thirimanne and Chandimal struggling to get substantial scores

Daniel Alexande: "SL last lost a test on 20th January and lose again on 20th July, end of good six months of test cricket "

2.00 pm South Africa are huddled by the pitch, Amla is leading the discussion. The entire squad is out there. Steyn also gets a few words in and off they break. This is their third Test win in the country. Great debut in the top job for Hashim. He had wanted his spearhead to bowl fast and blow oppositions away and that's what Steyn has done in Galle, to record the best figures by a quick at the ground. Nine wickets are evidence of his menace and Morkel also chipped in, finishing with four in the second innings.

Yes, Eranga is walking out, with eight stitches in his bowling hand. He talks with his captain, who is presumably asking if he is up for it. Eranga nods

Morkel switches around the wicket. Short leg and deep square leg in place

Sri Lanka, beware. That is drinks. Ten Sports has released footage shown to the match referee about Philander's ball tampering. And it's clear as day, he was scratching the ball on the rough side. Morne Morkel returns

Imran Tahir, he's pretty decent against the lower order. Needs a wicket for his confidence