Hope for hosts as captain drops anchor

The Sri Lanka captain shared an unbroken 61-run stand for the sixth wicket with Prasanna Jayawardene, the wicketkeeper-batsman contributing 27 runs.

South Africa missed a chance to dismiss Mahela Jayawardene on two when he edged an Andrew Hall delivery to gully. But Herschelle Gibbs, one of the safest fielders in the team, failed to hold the chance.

It was a major reprieve for Sri Lanka. Jayawardene scored 374 in the first Test last week and shared a world record 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara that laid the foundation for the innings victory. Sri Lanka8217;s highest run chase in Test cricket so far has been 326 against Zimbabwe at the Sinhalese Sports Club in 1997.

South Africa resumed at 257 for seven and added 54 before Mark Boucher8217;s rearguard innings finished at 65.

Despite losing opening partner Upul Tharanga for a duck, veteran Sanath Jayasuriya started the chase aggressively for Sri Lanka with 73 from 74 balls. The 37-year-old left-hander, who recently reversed his decision to retire from Test cricket, took the attack onto the South African bowlers reaching his 30th Test half-century in style by hoisting veteran paceman Shaun Pollock for a six that landed in the adjoining Air Force Camp. He was particularly aggressive against Pollock and hit the bowlers first three balls of his third over for 4,4,6 adding a quick 82 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara. Pollock hit back by breaking the partnership with the total at 94, but Sri Lanka suffered the biggest blow when Jayasuriya was dismissed.

Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje turned one from the rough and the ball brushed the batsman8217;s glove, giving Hashim Amla a comfortable catch at short leg.

That put South Africa back in the hunt after an uncompromising onslaught by the former Sri Lankan captain.

The tourists got a few steps closer to squaring the series when Boje struck twice in the evening session with the wickets of Tillekeratne Dilshan 18 and Chamara Kapugedara 13.

But South Africa8217;s attack was curtailed when fast bowler Makhaya Ntini pulled a hamstring and was restricted to just two overs after lunch. But he is expected to be fit to resume bowling on the final day.

Earlier, off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan completed his 56th five wicket haul when he picked up the last three South African wickets. He finished with seven for 97 in 47 overs and ended with a match with 12 wickets, the 18th time he has taken 10 wickets or more in a Test. He claimed 22 wickets in the two-match series to lift his career tally to 657 in Tests.

Brief Scores: South Africa 361 and 311 Gibbs 92, Boucher 65, Muralitharan 7/97 Sri Lanka 321 and 262 for 5 wkts Jayawardene 77 no, Jayasuriya 73, Boje 3/76.