Debutant Marchant de Lange upstaged the two fast bowlers he grew up admiring as South Africa and Sri Lanka shared the honours on the first day of the second Test match at Kingsmead on Monday. De Lange, 21, took four for 60, after replacing the injured Vernon Philander, as Sri Lanka reached 289 for seven at stumps.
Thilan Samaraweera made a patient 86 not out and shared a crucial sixth wicket partnership of 111 with another new cap, wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal, who hit 58.
Tall and strongly built, De Lange consistently bowled at more than 140kmh off a relatively short run-up to rip out three of Sri Lanka's leading batsmen. De Lange took another wicket in the last over of the day when he had Thisara Perera caught at short leg to finish with four for 60.
Asked which fast bowlers he had admired and tried to emulate as a youngster, De Lange replied: "The two who were playing today - Dale (Steyn) and Morne (Morkel)."
Morkel took two for 55, including the key wicket of Mahela Jayawardene, who became the first Sri Lankan to reach 10,000 runs in Tests before being bowled by Morkel for 31, but Steyn went wicketless.
De Lange, who received a late call-up after Philander was ruled out by a knee injury, had Sri Lanka in trouble at 162 for five on a good batting pitch after dismissing Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews.
"I heard last night that I was playing and Vernon gave me good advice. He told me to stay calm and keep it simple," he said.
Veteran South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis said it had been an impressive performance by the young fast bowler from the small northern town of Tzaneen. "He was on the button from ball one. We've got some very exciting times.A
After Sri Lanka were beaten by an innings and 81 runs in the first Test in Centurion, Marsh said he was pleased that a fair pitch had been prepared for the second game. "This is a good Test wicket, definitely different from Centurion, which was a disappointing wicket," he said.
Samaraweera was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Imran Tahir when he was on 50 but gained a reprieve when Tahir was no-balled - a decision by umpire Steve Davis that was shown to be an error.
Samaraweera also survived a stumping chance to Mark Boucher off Tahir when he had 63.
Chandimal also had a life, with De Lange failing to pull down a leaping catch at mid-on off Tahir when he had 25. The second new ball was Chandimal's undoing as he flashed wildly at a short, lifting delivery from Morkel to be caught behind by Boucher.
Scoreboard
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Sri Lanka, first innings:
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T. Paranavitana c Boucher b Lange 12
T. Dilshan c Morkel b Imran Tahir 47
K. Sangakkara c Boucher b Lange 0
M. Jayawardene b Morkel 31
T. Samaraweera not out 86
A. Mathews c and b De Lange 30
D. Chandimal c Boucher b Morkel 58
T. Perera c Amla b De Lange 12
Extras: (lb8, nb5) 13
Total: (7 wkts, 89.3 overs) 289
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Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-47, 3-84, 4-117, 5-162, 6-273, 7-289.
Bowling: Steyn 19-3-55-0, Morkel 17-2-55-2 (3nb), De Lange 16.3-2-60-4, Imran Tahir 28-3-87-1, Kallis 9-1-24-0
To bat: R. Herath, C. Welegedara, D. Fernando
South Africa: G. Smith (capt), J. Rudolph, H. Amla, J. Kallis, A. de Villiers, A. Prince, M. Boucher (wkt), D. Steyn, M. Morkel, M. de Lange, Imran Tahir.
Match situation: Sri Lanka are 289 for seven in the first innings
Toss: Sri Lanka
Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS), Richard Kettleborough (ENG)
TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).
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