South Africa beat injury-ravaged Sri Lanka by an innings and 45 runs

South Africa drew first blood in their Test series against an injury-ravaged Sri Lanka in Centurion, where half-centuries from Kusal Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga were in vain as the tourists crashed to a heavy defeat.

Resuming on 65 for two – still 160 runs short of making their opponents bat again – Sri Lanka succumbed to 180 all out to lose by an innings and 45 runs, falling 1-0 down in the two-match Test series.

The seamers did the damage on day four as Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wiaan Mulder and Lutho Sipamla finished with two wickets apiece, while Dhananjaya De Silva was unable to bat for Sri Lanka because of a thigh injury he suffered on the first day.

South Africa drew first blood in their Test series against an injury-ravaged Sri Lanka

Kusal Perera (above) hit a 50 but it was not good enough to make South Africa bat again

Tail-enders Kasun Rajitha and Lahiru Kumara came out to the crease despite carrying injuries themselves but with the second Test beginning in Johannesburg on Sunday, the pair and Dhananjaya are all unlikely to be available.

Perera offered resistance at the start of what was scheduled to be the penultimate day but lost Dinesh Chandimal and Niroshan Dickwella early on before the opener edged behind off Nortje for 64, a not out decision overturned on review.

Hasaranga struck an enterprising 59 from 53 balls before holing out off Sipamla but by this stage the writing was on the wall as South Africa, who amassed a mammoth 621 in their only innings, cruised to victory midway through the second session.  

Wanindu Hasaranga (above) struck an enterprising 59 from 53 balls but was on the losing side