November 19, 2002	Tuesday	Ramazan 13, 1423

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CENTURION (South Africa), Nov 18: Kumar Sangakkara fell 11 runs short of a century as Sri Lanka began to build a lead over South Africa on day four of the second Test here Monday.

When bad light and a looming thunderstorm stopped play 28 overs early, Sri Lanka were 180 for three in their second innings, a lead of 55, with Mahela Jayawardena 40 not out and Hashan Tillekeratne yet to score.

South Africa were earlier dismissed for 448 in their first innings, with captain Shaun Pollock left stranded just a run short of his third Test century.

Pollock’s undefeated 99 came in just over four hours, during which he faced 170 balls and struck nine fours and two sixes.

There was a 20-minute delay shortly after tea as umpires Daryl Harper and Russell Tiffin called for the floodlights to be turned on as thunder clouds gathered in the distance.

Even once the lights were fully functional, visibility was poor, but Sangakkara and Jayawardena turned down the offer of bad light in favour of extending Sri Lanka’s lead.

It did not work in their favour, however, as shortly afterwards Sangakkara was superbly caught down the leg side off Makhaya Ntini by Mark Boucher.

He made a fluent 89 in a little under three hours off 132 balls and hit 15 fours.

The Sri Lankan second innings did not start well, although there was a huge dose of misfortune about the dismissal of opener Jehan Mubarak for 15.

He was given out caught behind, although television replays clearly showed he had made no contact with the ball.

Marvan Atapattu followed shortly after lunch for 22, caught behind as he flashed loosely from Jacques Kallis.