Already, Dhananjaya de Silva’s good fortunate at winning the toss had been rewarded with the wickets of the openers. Aiden Markram pushed at a ball that nipped away from him that he edged to first slip. Tony de Zorzi failed to manage a ball that bounced and moved, giving a gleeful Mamindu Mendis a catch at second slip.

Bavuma has only scored 28 runs and so much more needs to be done by him and what remains of a Proteas batting order, which features Keshav Maharaj at No 11. Conditions are forecast to get easier, and there’ll even be sunshine, say the experts. Bavuma will hope that it will shine on him.

Temba Bavuma returns from injury to lead South Africa in their Test series against Sri Lanka. His comeback boosts a squad also welcoming the return of fast bowlers Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee. South Africa aims to climb the ICC World Test Championship standings.

Bavuma was excited to be back in the squad after a long time of recovery. "I feel quite fresh and excited as well to have the opportunity to be batting, to be putting on my pads, to be running on the field," he said. The skipper also opened up about his battles with "mental demons" during his elbow injury.

Regular captain Temba Bavuma has recovered from injury and will lead the Proteas in a two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting in Durban next week. Bavuma, who missed the national team’s recent 2-0 victory over Bangladesh due to a left elbow injury, was included in a 14-man squad announced on Tuesday by Test coach Shukri Conrad to face Sri Lanka.

The Proteas have strengthened their pace bowling attack for the first Test against Sri Lanka with Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen returning to the starting line-up.