Colombo: South Africa took a 40-run first-innings lead after Dale Steyn snared five wickets on Saturday to finish off the Sri Lankan lower order's rearguard revival in the second cricket Test.
Replying to South Africa's 361, the Sri Lankans were all out for 321 just before stumps on the second day.
South African openers Hershelle Gibbs and Andrew Hall safely negotiated two overs before the close, adding six runs to the lead.
After Makhaya Ntini put South Africa on top with four early wickets to reduce Sri Lanka to 86 for five in the morning session, half centuries by Chaminda Vaas, Chamara Kapugedara and Farveez Maharoof kept the hosts in the game.
Kapugedara, 19, and wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene started the rescue with a 105-run stand, setting a national record for the sixth wicket in Tests against South Africa.
Kapugedara made 63 from 77 balls, his second Test half-century, as he took on the South African paceman, including Ntini who had caused the senior batsmen much trouble.
He hooked the third ball he faced for a six off Ntini and was batting with confidence until he attempted to sweep Nicky Boje and was bowled.
That was Boje's first wicket in the series after bowling 70 overs and conceding 243 runs.
Jayawardene was equally aggressive, making 42 in 49 balls with six boundaries and a six.
South Africa removed both middle order batsmen before tea but faced fresh challenges as Vaas and Maharoof resisted for much of the evening session.
Vaas was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 64, his 11th Test half-century.
He combined for 117 runs with Maharoof, who scored 56 before he was bowled by Steyn with the new ball.
Steyn -- who earlier removed Mahela Jayawardene, a triple century maker last week -- also had Vaas caught behind and accounted for Muttiah Muralitharan, who hit the first ball he faced to Hall at mid-on.
Steyn returned with figures of five wickets for 82 while Ntini, who rattled the top order in two damaging morning spells, finished with 4-84.
South Africa need a win to square the series after an innings defeat in the first Test last week.
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