Half-centuries from skipper Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara tightened Sri Lanka’s grip on the second cricket Test against South Africa on Friday after the visitors were dismissed cheaply following a devastating spell from Sanath Jayasuriya.
Sri Lanka extended their lead to 492 runs on day three of the Test, cruising to 211 runs for four wickets at stumps after Atapattu decided not to enforce the follow on despite South Africa trailing by 281 runs in the first innings.
Atapattu scored 72 runs — his 13th Test 50 including seven fours — after some brilliant bowling from spinner Jayasuriya helped dismiss South Africa for 189 runs in their first innings and put the hosts in a winning position.
Sangakkara, who scored a double century in the first innings, continued his form with 64 runs in just 58 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six.
The pair added 96 runs for the second wicket in 135 balls after opener Jayasuriya was dismissed for 19, stumped by Mark Boucher off left-arm spinner Nicky Boje.
Sangakkara skied medium-pacer Jacques Kallis to Makhaya Ntini at mid-on when the score was 146.
Kallis struck again in his next over when he had Mahela Jayawardene caught by Boucher for three runs and Atapattu was bowled by leg-spinner Jacques Rudolph while attempting a pull.
Thilan Samaraweera and Tillekeratne Dilshan batted until the close with 21 and 23 runs respectively.
Jayasuriya bowled superbly earlier on Friday to claim 5-34 — his second five-wicket haul — surpassing his previous best of 5-43.
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 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 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 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 they notched up 470 in their 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