The second day of South Africa’s series closer against Sri Lanka was one for the record books as Hashim Amla and Keshav Maharaj achieved rare feats despite a rough day against the opponents SSC cricket stadium in Colombo.

While Maharaj has produced the best bowling figures for the Proteas in a Test innings since readmission, Amla has become the only third South Africa batsman to have reached nine thousand Test runs.

Maharaj alone bagged nine of Sri Lanka’s wickets in the first innings as they ended up scoring 338 runs. After finishing the first day with eight wickets, Maharaj endured considerable hardship in taking his ninth scalp by breaking 78-run last wicket stand. His 9/129 is the best by an overseas player in Sri Lanka.

The visitors spluttered to 124 for 10 recording their third consecutive Test innings without a total over 150. Faf du Plessis top-scored for the side with a 48-run knock and Amla also became the only fourth batsman for the Proteas to reach the double figures in the first innings.

Amla’s innings of 19 runs took his Test career total to 9016 runs placing him after Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith in South Africa’s 9000-run club in Tests. Amla is also the leading century-maker for South Africa in ODIs with 26 hundreds to his name. And when it comes to Test cricket, his tally of 28 tons is only second to Kallis’ 45 centuries.

South Africa, after a disappointing batting display, are now on the verge of getting whitewashed in the ongoing two-Test series against Sri Lanka as the hosts have already amassed a 365-run lead in the second innings, with seven wicket in hand.