South Africa need 5 wickets for victory

South Africa require five wickets and Sri Lanka need 143 runs as the second Test heads for a potentially exciting conclusion on Monday with both sides desperate for victory as they chase a place in the World Test Championship final.

Sri Lanka were 205/5 at stumps on the fourth day on Sunday, chasing a target of 348 to win and square the series, while South Africa will be looking to run through the remaining batsmen and secure a 2-0 win.

An unbeaten partnership of 83 between captain Dhananajaya de Silva and Kusal Mendes, both 39 not out, offered Sri Lanka hope of victory as they kept up a brisk run rate of over four per over, although they would need to significantly better the most successful run chase at the venue, which was Australia’s 271/8 against South Africa in 1997. If South Africa can secure victory, they will go above Australia into top place in the standings.