Dilruwan Perera finished with figures of 4-46 off 23 overs
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Sri Lanka spinner Dilruwan Perera took a four-wicket haul before opener Dimuth Karunaratne scored a fantastic 60 to hand his side a 272-run lead over South Africa on the second day in Galle.
Starting off the day on 4/1, South Africa only added five runs to their overnight score before Keshav Maharaj, who was sent in as the nightwatchman, was trapped lbw off the bowling of Rangana Herath for three runs.
Dean Elgar fell shortly after as he was caught by Angelo Mathews at first slip off the bowling of Dilruwan for eight runs.
Hashim Amla failed to have much of an impact with the bat as he was caught by Kusal Mendis at short leg off the bowling of Dilruwan for 15.
Amla was not given out initially, but Sri Lanka reviewed, which worked in their favour, as replays showed that the ball had brushed Amla’s glove before hitting his pad and popping up to Mendis at short leg.
Temba Bavuma did not fare much better as he was clean bowled by Lakshan Sandakan for 17.
With wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock being dismissed not long after, South Africa found themselves in all kinds of trouble at 51/6.
However, captain Faf du Plessis and Vernon Philander came to the rescue with a much-needed 64-run partnership before Philander was given out lbw off the bowling of Dilruwan for 18.
Philander reviewed the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and hitting off stump.
Du Plessis went on to score 49 off 88 balls, which included five boundaries, before he was cleaned up by Sri Lanka stand-in captain Suranga Lakmal.
Lakmal struck again in his next over as he removed Kagiso Rabada for two runs.
South Africa ended up being skittled out for 126, which gave Sri Lanka a 161-run lead, when Dale Steyn was sent packing by Lakmal for eight runs.
Dilruwan was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Lakmal took three, Herath snapped up two and Sandakan chipped in with one.
With a 161-run lead in hand, Sri Lanka made a solid start to their second innings as Karunaratne and Danushka Gunathilaka amassed a 51-run partnership before Gunathilaka was caught by Rabada at deep midwicket off the bowling of Maharaj for 17.
Maharaj struck again a short while later as he clean bowled Dhananjaya de Silva for nine.
Three balls later, Mendis was on his way back to the pavilion as he was trapped lbw off the bowling of Maharaj for a duck.
Mendis opted to review the decision, but it didn’t lead to the on-field decision being overturned.
Karunaratne ended up scoring 60 off 80 balls, which included seven boundaries, before he was caught by Amla in the slip cordon off the bowling of Rabada.
Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 15th Test fifty
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Mathews and Roshen Silva managed to put together an unbeaten 19-run stand before stumps was called.
Mathews finished on 14 off 48 balls, which included a boundary, while Silva remained undefeated on 10 off 14 deliveries, which included two boundaries.
Maharaj was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Rabada claimed one.
Sri Lanka ended day two on 111/4 and will continue batting on Saturday at 10:00 local time or 04:30 GMT.