GQEBERHA, South Africa (AP) — South Africa clinched a series sweep over Sri Lanka with a decisive 109-run victory in the second Test at St George's Park, concluding on Monday. The Proteas had the upper hand from the outset, needing only five wickets to secure the win while Sri Lanka faced the daunting task of scoring 143 more runs to reach a target of 348.

The final day saw South Africa dismantle Sri Lanka's batting line-up, ending any hopes of a comeback by dismissing captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis early in the morning session. This exposed Sri Lanka's lower order, which crumbled under pressure, leading to a swift conclusion before lunch with Sri Lanka all out for 238. Spinner Keshav Maharaj was instrumental in this victory, claiming three of the final five wickets to round off his 11th career five-wicket haul with figures of 5-76.

This win not only sealed the series 2-0 but also propelled South Africa to the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. With two more home Tests against Pakistan on the horizon, starting December 26, the Proteas are now in a prime position to qualify for their first WTC final. Captain Temba Bavuma expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "WTC table looks good. Want to continue what we're doing, enjoy the victory, and in a couple of weeks’ time start speaking about Pakistan."

The match was a testament to both teams' resilience, with the game swinging back and forth over the five days. Despite Sri Lanka's spirited fightback, particularly through Prabath Jayasuriya's five-for on Sunday, South Africa's bowlers, led by Maharaj, were relentless. The Sri Lankan innings, despite a solid start, fell apart rapidly after the morning's key dismissals.

Bavuma highlighted the challenging nature of the match, saying, "This test for a lot of the guys was a proper test. Rare that you get to play all five days, rare the game swings both sides. Credit to Sri Lanka for the way they went about their business, asked the right questions, they made us work hard for the win."

Score Summary:

South Africa: 358 and 317 (Bavuma 66, Markram 55; Jayasuriya 5-129)
Sri Lanka: 328 and 238 (Dhananjaya de Silva 50; Maharaj 5-76)

This series victory underscores South Africa's dominance at home and sets a positive tone as they eye further success in the WTC, with the next challenge against Pakistan looming large.
[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]