A devastating bowling spell by Sanath Jayasuriya put Sri Lanka in a winning position on Friday as South Africa was dismissed for just 189 in their first innings of the second cricket Test.
Jayasuriya’s figures of 5-34 — his second five-wicket haul — surpassed his previous best of 5-43, on day three of the Test at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Sri Lanka refused to enforce the follow-on despite South Africa trailing the hosts by 281 runs, and the home side cruised to 108 for one wicket in their second innings at the tea break to stretch their lead to 389 runs.
Left-arm South African spinner Nicky Boje had Jayasuriya stumped by Mark Boucher for 19 in the ninth over of the innings with the total at 46. Skipper Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara were at the crease at the break, with both on 41.
South Africa had resumed the day at 166-3, with skipper Graeme Smith on 49 not out. But after scoring his seventh Test half-century, he failed to capitalise on a dropped catch on 52 by Sangakkara and added only 13 more runs before being caught and bowled by Jayasuriya.
Jayasuriya then bowled Smith’s overnight partner Jacques Kallis for 13, and by the lunch break South Africa were struggling at 186 for six wickets. When play resumed their innings lasted only 19 more balls as they lost four wickets for just three runs.
Boeta Dippenaar departed in the first ball after the break when he was caught at silly point by Tillekeratne Dilshan off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for 25.
Dippenaar appeared surprised by the decision from West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor that the ball had brushed the bat after hitting the pad.
In his next over, Herath bowled Makhaya Ntini with a delivery that came back into the right-hander and Jayasuriya bowled last man Mornantau Hayward in the following over to end South Africa’s innings.
Herath took three wickets for 60 runs in 25 overs.
Sri Lanka had already set South Africa a tough run chase when it notched up 470 in its first innings, with Sangakkara scoring a superb 232 — his second-highest Test score and third double century. He occupied the crease for almost nine hours and faced 357 balls. — Sapa-AP