GQEBERHA, South Africa — On the final morning of the second cricket test at St George’s Park, South Africa secured a victory over Sri Lanka by a margin of 109 runs, completing a series sweep with a 2-0 result on Monday.

The match’s dynamics favored the South African side, who required just five more wickets to clinch the win. In contrast, Sri Lanka still needed an uphill 143 runs for their target of 348, with their remaining prominent batters attempting to fight back in the middle.

In a decisive half-hour, the Proteas managed to dismiss captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, which paved the way for Sri Lanka’s collapse. Ultimately, they were all out for 238 runs prior to lunch, unable to maintain their resistance against the South African bowling attack.

Keshav Maharaj played a standout role in this final innings, claiming three of the five wickets needed, thereby notching his 11th career five-wicket haul with impressive figures of 5-76.

This victory also strengthened South Africa’s aspirations for a spot in the World Test Championship final, allowing them to rise to the top of the standings as they prepare for two upcoming home tests against Pakistan, scheduled to begin on December 26.