South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs scored 92 to put his team in a commanding position against Sri Lanka on the third day of the second Test on Sunday.
South Africa, who hit 361 in the first innings and bowled Sri Lanka out for 321, reached tea on 161-4 to pad their lead to 201 runs.
Gibbs, under pressure after three cheap dismissals in the series, batted positively in the morning and then grafted hard during the afternoon.
The 32-year-old right-hander stroked 11 boundaries and one six during a 190-ball innings, only his second half-century against Sri Lanka.
But Gibbs fell on the stroke of tea after top-edging a sweep off Muttiah Muralitharan. South Africa captain Ashwell Prince was 10 not out with the in-form AB de Villiers due in next.
The only casualty of the morning session was makeshift opener Andrew Hall, who was caught behind for 32 off Farveez Maharoof.
Hall and Gibbs shared an opening stand of 76 runs, allowing South Africa to tighten their grip on the game after their bowlers stole the initiative on day two.
South Africa scored 100 runs in the 29-over morning session but their progress was slowed during a tense, slow-scoring afternoon that yielded just 55 runs.
Sri Lanka applied pressure with two run-outs, the first a controversial decision by the television umpire, who ruled Jacques Rudolph out for 15.
South Africa were convinced Chamara Kapugedera’s hand had brushed the boundary rope before he knocked down the stumps with a direct hit.
Kapugedera then ran out Hashim Amla (8), who was sent back too late by Gibbs, with an accurate throw from short fine leg.
Muralitharan, Sri Lanka’s chief weapon on a dry, turning pitch, was generally handled well by the South Africans. The 34-year-old off spinner had to wait until his 22nd over before claiming his first victim, finishing with 1-62 from 21,5 overs.
Sri Lanka won the first Test in the two-match series by an innings and 153 runs. — Reuters