Amla, De Villiers dig in but SL have upper hand

Amla had two escapes on 10 and 34, edging a drive off Dilruwan Perera past Mahela Jayawardene’s outstretched hand at slip and then having his stumps shattered by Suranga Lakmal as he moved away from his crease when a crow flew across the pitch. The bowler appealed to the umpire who signalled a dead ball.

Sri Lanka’s only success in the final session was the wicket of Faf du Plessis who was caught brilliantly down the leg side by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella off Lakmal for 36 to end a partnership of 58 with Amla. Sri Lanka’s spinners had taken two early wickets to reduce South Africa to 23 for two at tea.

Sri Lanka’s first innings ended an hour after lunch with Vernon Philander picking up the last two wickets of Ajantha Mendis (2) and Lakmal (4) to catches by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock. Debutant Dickwella’s innings of 72 off 116 deliveries ended in a run out .

Jayawardene was run out for 165 and Dickwella scored a half-century as Sri Lanka piled on the runs on the second morning. The hosts were 395 for six at lunch with wicketkeeper Dickwella unbeaten on 63 and Perera on nine.

South Africa’s only success of the morning was the wicket of Jayawardene, who had passed 150 for the 16th time in his career before he was run out. The elegant right-hander swept JP Duminy to fine leg and Petersen’s direct throw at the stumps caught the batsman well short .

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 421 all out (M Jayawardene 165, N Dickwella 72; V Philander 2-52); South Africa 98-3 (H Amla 46 n.o, Suranga Lakmal 1-13)