Spinners put Sri Lanka on top in first South Africa Test

First innings centurion Dimuth Karunaratne then made a fluent 60 as the host ended day two on 111 for four, leading by 272 runs at the Galle International Stadium.

Angelo Mathews, on 14, and Roshen Silva, on 10, were batting at close of play after left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed three wickets for South Africa. But it was the Sri Lankan bowlers who starred on a dramatic day that witnessed South Africa slip to 51-6 before being bowled out for 126 in the second session of play. 

The dismal effort set a new low for South Africa in Sri Lanka, worse than its 169 in Colombo in 2006. 

Perera returned impressive figures of 4-46 with his off-spin, while paceman and stand-in skipper Suranga Lakmal took three wickets. 

Veteran spinner Rangana Herath started Sri Lanka’s dominance by sending back nightwatchman Maharaj early, and Perera soon took crucial wickets including the dangerous Hashim Amla for 15. Skipper Faf du Plessis made a gritty 49.