Steyn stars in historic South Africa win over Sri Lanka

Dale Steyn grabbed a match haul of 9-99 as South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by 153 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test on Sunday as Hashim Amla started his captaincy in fine style.

Steyn's figures, the best by a quick at the Galle ground, helped the visitors bowl Sri Lanka out twice despite a wicket which offered little help.

It was only South Africa's third win on the island and their first since 2000.

Steyn was well-supported by seamer Morne Morkel, who picked up four wickets as Sri Lanka's second innings ended on 216 shortly into the second session.

Sri Lanka had started the final day on 110 for one, optimistic of chasing down the 370 victory target after Amla had declared on 206-6, but collapsed under the pressure of the two quicks to lose nine wickets for 106 runs.

Steyn ended with match figures of nine for 99 to take the man of the match award after the best bowling figures by a quick at Galle.

Steyn started South Africa's victory push by grabbing an early breakthrough on Sunday when he had Kaushal Silva edge to wicket-keeper Quinton De Kock to end his innings on 38 and the second wicket stand of 104 with Kumar Sangakkara.

Morkel then struck with the first ball after the drinks breaks when Mahela Jayawardene edged behind for 10 to leave Sri Lanka on 138-3.

The hosts still held hope, though, with Sangakkara holding firm against the barrage before the former skipper fell to one of the worst balls of the day.

The left-hander pulling a woeful long hop delivery from JP Duminy straight to Amla at mid-wicket to depart for 76 and leave the hosts in big trouble on 149-4.

Sangakkara could not believe what he had done, staring at the pitch before walking off with his head down.

Lahiru Thirimanne was the next to go, falling in similar circumstances to the first innings as he edged a ball from Steyn outside his stumps to AB de Villiers in the slips for 12.

Dinesh Chandimal then completed the miserable session by departing for one as he gloved an attempted pull off Morkel to de Kock to leave the hosts six down at lunch.

Steyn returned in the second session to take his fourth wicket when he had Dilruwan Perera caught by de Kock for his second duck of the match. It was the fourth wicket to go down for only 12 runs as the hosts fell to 161-7.

Duminy then ended Rangana Herath's 18-ball cameo for 20 when he top edged a sweep and was caught by a darting De Villiers, who ran from slip to short fine leg to take the catch.

Morkel wrapped up the victory by claiming the final two wickets in two balls, dismissing Suranga Lakmal at long leg for 12 and then Shaminda Eranga fending a short ball to short leg to leave Angelo Mathews unbeaten at the crease on 27.

The second Test starts in Colombo on July 24.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.