Sri Lanka v South Africa, 2014

At Colombo (SSC), July 24-28, 2014. Drawn. Toss: Sri Lanka. Test debut: D. P. D. N. Dickwella.

Since July 2008, when South Africa batted much of the final two days to survive at Lord's, they had been involved in a number of unlikely escapes - most notably at Adelaide and against India at the Wanderers, when they ended up opting for the draw just short of 458. This, however, was arguably the greatest achievement of them all.

On a dry, cratered pitch against three frontline spinners, South Africa contrived to bat - and only just survive - 245.5 overs in all. No one stood out more than their new captain Amla, whose combined total of 541 balls faced was the third-most by a visiting batsman in Sri Lanka (after Stephen Fleming's 710 at the P. Sara Oval in 2003, and Brian Lara's 569 on this ground in 2001-02). Even in the first innings, Amla's 382 deliveries were considerably more treasured than his 139 unbeaten runs, and the quality of his strokeplay even less important. His enduring, calm presence was all that mattered.

De Kock, in just his third Test, was promoted to No. 3 in the second innings and told to play his natural game, but even the enthusiasm of youth gave way to the ragged truth of survival on a surface unconducive to shot-making. He contributed 37 from 92 balls. Duminy followed an unbeaten 100 at Galle with a total of six runs. But his first innings spanned 58 balls, and his second 65: time trumped runs - and he delivered selflessly. Sri Lanka deserved to win, but South Africa's refusal to accept defeat was ghoulishly fascinating. "Sri Lanka played all the cricket in this Test match and we just had to hang on," said de Villiers.

The result was especially harsh on Jayawardene, who scored a sublime century on the opening day - the last of his 34 at Test level - and was largely responsible for an above par total. Having announced that his Test retirement would come after the forthcoming Pakistan series, he played with the stylish aggression which had first captivated his fans 17 years earlier. If there were suspicions that his skills had subsided, this innings crushed them. Upper-cutting Morkel bouncers, slashing Steyn through point and straight-driving Philander, Jayawardene made the attack which had humbled his team just a week before look helpless. His handling of the spinners was contemptuous. On this ground alone, he had now compiled 11 Test hundreds and more than 5,000 first-class runs.

Sri Lanka made the unusual move of flying Dinesh Chandimal, who had kept wicket in the opening Test, to England for the A-tour, and bringing 21-year-old Niroshan Dickwella in the opposite direction. He made a significant impression with a menu of organised strokes and an unfussy approach behind the stumps. He was fined 10% of his match fee for claiming a catch which had clearly bounced first. Herath bowled 90 overs in the match, and off-spinner Perera 86. Their control was mesmeric: Amla suggested there might have been "half a dozen bad balls between them".

Yet the South Africans remained philosophical - or appeared to. They spent three days under siege, with a brief respite while dominant half-centuries from Sangakkara and Mathews took the target to 369, and yet still clung on to survival hopes. Bad light and rain brought an early finish on the fourth day, and the monsoon deducted around 20 overs on the last, although Sri Lanka were so far ahead of their bowling requirement it hardly made much difference: at various stages they were averaging 20 an hour. In the dying moments, No. 10 Imran Tahir feigned cramp, having been at the crease for less than half an hour. He slumped to the ground and waited for treatment. It added to the feeling of daylight robbery - though under thunderously grey skies.

There was no lull when the pitch became flat. Every ball seemed likely to bring a wicket. The Sri Lankans rashly used up their two reviews in their desperation to remove de Villiers, and paid the price when a couple of later decisions might have gone their way. Several deliveries simply spun too much. The result meant South Africa regained top spot in the ICC Test rankings from Australia. Some reckoned it was a slightly dishonourable way to return to No. 1, but the players had a right to feel proud of their fighting spirit.
Man of the Match: D. P. M. D. Jayawardene. Man of the Series: M. D. K. Perera.