Vaas helps Sri Lanka to maiden Test series win over South Africa

COLOMBO: Chaminda Vaas wrecked South Africa as Sri Lanka scored an emphatic 313-run victory in the second and final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground on Sunday.

The left-arm seamer finished with 6-29 to help clinch their first series win over South Africa, who were dismissed for their lowest score against Sri Lanka on the final day.

Set an improbable target of 493 in just over a day, South Africa were bowled out for 179 after resuming at 21-2, with Vaas coming up with his ninth five-wicket haul in 80 Tests.

South Africa, who recorded their previous lowest of 189 against Sri Lanka in the first innings of the match, gave an inept batting performance in the second innings to go down tamely with well over a session to spare.

"We have a lot of re-thinking to do after this match. Our players just did not perform in the field and seemed to lack hunger," said a disappointed South African captain Graeme Smith.

Sri Lanka had the advantage of a better spin attack going into the series but their pacemen delivered the knock-out punch with Vaas showing his ability with the new ball as well as the old.

After a wicket on the rain-hit fourth day, he came back to remove two of the three early wickets this morning as South Africa fell to 36-5.

And just when Mark Boucher (51) and Boeta Dippenaar (59 not out) added 101 runs for the sixth wicket to raise hopes of a resistance, Vaas came back to remove Boucher.

Boucher nibbled at one outside the off stump to be caught behind, just as Makhay Ntini went a little later. In between, Vaas also trapped left-hander Nicky Boje lbw to stifle South Africa.

Vaas had earlier in the day removed Jacques Kallis and Jacques Rudolph, while other paceman Lasith Malinga finished with three wickets in the innings.

"Their pacers bowled very well. Vaas has shown time and again what he is capable of. He just comes in and takes wickets when they matter. Our bowlers need to learn from Vaas," said Smith.

"Even Malinga is one of those selfless kind of bowlers who comes in enthusiastically and bowls with everything he has," he said.

For South Africa, Boucher hit seven fours off 132 deliveries and Dippenaar eight boundaries off 165 balls even as the other batsmen struggled against the sustained attack.

Vaas felt it was important to break the partnership between Boucher and Dippenaar.

"Boucher's wicket was a crucial one because the pair seemed to be very comfortable in the middle," said Vaas. "This is definitely one of my best performances because I got wickets when they mattered."

Sri Lanka's only previous Test win over South Africa had come in the southern coastal city of Galle four years ago, which is famous as a pitch that helps spinners.

The first match of this series too was played in Galle but Sri Lanka could not win the match as the pitch was a bit too slow and ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was not at his best.

With Muralitharan pulling out of this Test because of a shoulder injury, Sri Lanka's chances were not very bright, but they surprised everyone by winning the match and series with ease.

Sri Lanka and South Africa play a five-match one-day series from August 20.