South Africa proved too good for Sri Lanka as they embarrassed them by winning the first Test with a huge margin of an innings and 81 runs.

The Islanders scored 180 runs in the first innings followed by mere 150 in the second whereas the Proteas thrashed 411 runs in their first innings.

The match was played at Super Sport Park, Centurian which came to an end on December 17, 2011, with more than two days to spare.

Vernon Philander was unanimously declared ‘Player of the match’ which he earned with his 10 wickets haul in the match.
Earlier Sri Lankans were squeezed to 180 runs in just 47.4 overs on the first day of the match. Angelo Mathews was their highest scorer with 38 runs as Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana contributed 36 and 32 runs respectively.
Philander was the star performer for the home side by grabbing five wickets, well supported by four from Dale Steyn and one by the spinner Imran Tahir.

South Africa launched their attack against the rival bowling and thrashed 389 runs for the loss of nine wickets at the close of the second day’s play. AB de Villiers became a victim of nervous nineties and missed his 13th Test century by just one run. Captain Graeme Smith put solid foundation of the innings by scoring 61runs while opening the innings.
They earned a deciding first innings lead of 209 runs, Mark Boucher was unbeaten at 49 runs and was well supported by Imran Tahir at the other end at 24 runs.

Boucher achieved his deserving fifty on the first ball of the third day when he dispatched the no ball from Dilhara Fernando. They tried to accelerate the innings but Boucher lost his wicket after scoring 65 runs, Imran remained unbeaten on 29. The whole team was bowled out at 411 runs and the lead was extended to 231 runs.

Chanaka Welegedara and Thisara Perera were the highest wicket takers with three each, Mathews, Fernando and Tillakaratne Dilshan shared one wicket each.

Sri Lanka had a disastrous start by losing their four top order batsmen for just 37 runs which included Pranavitana, Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

The Proteas bowling was horrifying which was being led by Philander once again and well supported by the other bowlers.

Samaraweera became a shield for a while but was unable to find a support at the other end. He shared nominal partnership of 29 runs for the fifth wicket but found him caught at the wicket by Boucher off Morne Morkal on 32 runs.
Rangana Herath and Perera showed some resistance by scoring 23 and 21 runs respectively as their innings was folded back on 150 runs in 39.1 overs.

Philander was once again the wrecker in chief with five wickets, Steyn held two as Morkal and Imran shared one wicket each.

South Africa proved their dominance in the game by clinching the match by an innings and 81 runs which came to the conclusion before the tea Interval on the third day.