Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma struck centuries to put South Africa in an impregnable position before their bowlers dismissed five Sri Lankan batsmen on the third day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Friday.
Stubbs (122) and Bavuma (113) crushed the Sri Lankan bowlers in a fourth-wicket stand of 249 before South Africa declared their second innings at tea after scoring 366 for five.
With a huge 516 to win, Sri Lanka were 103 for five at the close.
Although it was an improvement on their record 42 outs in the first innings, the Sri Lankan batsmen once again struggled against South Africa’s fast bowlers.
Kagiso Rabada and first-innings destroyer Marco Jansen took two wickets each and Gerald Coetzee claimed one.
Resuming at 132 for two on Friday morning, Stubbs and Bavuma removed any hope the tourists might have had of getting back into the match.
They played largely risk-free cricket adding 101 in 33 overs before lunch.
Left-arm spinner Vishwa Fernando was the best of the Sri Lankan bowlers and created the only chance of the morning, when Stubbs was dropped on 33 by Angelo Mathews at slip.
On a second consecutive day of glorious sunshine, the pitch played smoother than the first two days, although there remained some help for the seam bowlers.
There was more toil for the bowlers after lunch as the batsmen moved methodically towards their centuries – Stubbs’ third in six Tests and Bavuma’s third in 60 matches.
Stubbs was finally dismissed 20 minutes before tea when he was brought down by Vishwa Fernando, exposing his leg stump as he attempted a kick.
With tea due, Bavuma declared the innings closed while at leg before wicket against Asitha Fernando.
The experienced Dimuth Karunaratne fell early to Rabada for the second time in the match, again managing to hit a pitched ball around the wicket. He was caught at third slip by Stubbs for four.
Pathum Nissanka showed positive intent as he scored 23 from 31 balls before falling leg before wicket to Coetzee almost immediately after catching wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne on what turned out to be a no-ball from Rabada.
Jansen, who took seven for 13 in the first innings, followed up with the wickets of Angelo Mathews (25) and Kamindu Mendis (10) before night watchman Prabath Jayasuriya fell following a reflex leg catch short from Rabada after scoring a single.
Dinesh Chandimal was undefeated on 29th.
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