Hosts SA close in on big win

South Africa were five wickets from victory as Sri Lanka finished the third day of the first Test on 103/5 in their second innings after being set a 516-run target on Friday.

The home side will have two days to chase down the remaining wickets with Sri Lanka still needing a daunting 413 more runs to win the Test at Kingsmead.

Captain Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs scored centuries as the hosts built an imposing lead before declaring their second innings on 366/5 at tea.

Sri Lanka, dismissed for their lowest Test score of 42 in the first innings, saw Pathum Nissanka (23) and Angelo Mathews (25) get off to good starts before being dismissed but will again be disappointed with their batting effort.

Lanky bowler Marco Jansen, who took 7/13 in the first innings, bagged two more wickets. Kagiso Rabada also took two wickets.

Earlier, South Africa took full advantage of a pitch that went flat and docile after being lively on the first two days with Bavuma (113) and Stubbs (122) putting on 249 for the fourth wicket.

It was only Bavuma’s third century in his 60th Test. Bavuma, who has scored 23 Test 50s, returned to the lineup from an elbow injury.