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Sri Lankan bowler stuns cricket world with never-before-seen dismissal

Vishwa Fernando has stunned the cricket world with an incredible ball to hand Hashim Amla the first golden duck of his 122-Test career.

Fernando and Kasun Rajitha took three wickets each to bowl South Africa out for 222 on the first day of the second and final Test, before Sri Lanka finished 3-60 at stumps.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, it was a disappointing display from South Africa again.

They were in early trouble at 3-15 as Fernando (3-62) removed Dean Elgar (6) and Amla (0) in consecutive deliveries.

Fernando skittled Amla with an unplayable ball. Image: Sky Sports
Fernando skittled Amla with an unplayable ball. Image: Sky Sports

His ball to dismiss Amla was simply unplayable, swinging back through the 35-year-old’s defences to smash into middle stump.

It represented a never-before-seen dismissal for the South African great, who suffered the very first golden duck of his long Test career.

Fans immediately went into a frenzy over the incredible ball, and the unique piece of history it represented.

The tourists were 3-60 at the close, still trailing by 162 runs on a wicket that is providing assistance for the fast bowlers, as well as some turn for the spinners.

Opener Lahiru Thirimanne (25no) and nightwatchman Rajitha (0 no) will resume on day two, seeking to take Sri Lanka into the lead as they aim to become the first team from Asia to win a test series in South Africa.

Duanne Olivier (2-25) bowled Oshada Fernando (0) and had Kusal Mendis (16) caught to make early inroads into the Sri Lanka batting, while Kagiso Rabada grabbed the wicket of captain Dimuth Karunaratne (17) as the hosts fought back with the ball.

Vishwa Fernando was on fire. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Vishwa Fernando was on fire. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Earlier, Temba Bavuma (0) was run out for a second time in three innings as South Africa wobbled, before Aiden Markram (60) and captain Faf du Plessis (25) took the score to 73 before the latter was bowled the last ball before lunch.

Markram and debutant all-rounder Wiaan Mulder (9) were both trapped lbw by Rajitha (3-67), who then also grabbed the scalp of Keshav Maharaj (0), caught by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella.

De Kock scored freely as he put on 59 for the eighth wicket with Rabada (22), before being bowled by spinner Dhananjaya de Silva (2-15) and South Africa’s innings folded soon after that.

Sri Lanka won an epic first Test by one wicket in Durban, a result that ensures South Africa’s streak of seven home series wins will come to an end.

with AAP