COLOMBO, Aug 12: Kumar Sangakkara's third double century and two late wickets from Sanath Jayasuriya left Sri Lanka in control of the second Test against South Africa after the second day on Thursday.

Sangakkara, who started the day on 157 having come to the crease in the first over of the match, scored 232 from 357 balls, hitting 31 fours and one six during an innings that spanned nearly nine hours.

Sri Lanka were finally bowled out for 470 at tea while South Africa closed on 116 for three after left-arm spinner Jayasuriya took two late wickets for the hosts, who are without the injured test wicket record holder Muttiah Muralitharan.

After toiling all day in the field in sweltering conditions, South Africa began their innings poorly when left-armer Chaminda Vaas struck in the first over, trapping Herschelle Gibbs lbw for a golden duck with a perfectly pitched in swinger.

Captain Graeme Smith (49 not out) and Martin van Jaarsveld then compiled a 108-run second-wicket stand before Jayasuriya broke through with his second ball just before the close as van Jaarsveld mistimed a drive and was caught at short cover for 51.

Two balls later, Jayasuriya bowled night watch man Nicky Boje with a delivery that spun back through the gate to swing the initiative back to the hosts. Van Jaarsveld faced some tense early moments with young pacer Lasith Malinga in operation and also survived an appeal for a catch by Thilan Samaraweera at slip off left-arm spinner Rangan Herath.

Third umpire Asoka de Silva gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman as TV replays could not confirm whether the catch was taken cleanly. Earlier, Sangakkara had completed the fourth highest Test score against South Africa after Australia's Don Bradman (299), England's Eddie Paynter (243) and Mahela Jayawardene's 237 in the first Test.

The 26-year-old, dropped on 57 at first slip by Jaques Kallis at slip on day one, was let off on 177 when Shaun Pollock was unable to hold a difficult one-handed return catch.

Sangakkara showed his penchant for getting big scores. He has now converted three of his six centuries into double-tons, having already crossed the 200-run mark against Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

He could not improve on his career-best 270 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo earlier this year but did go past his second highest score of 230 against Pakistan at Lahore two years ago.

Sangakkara added 76 with Thilan Samaraweera (21) for the fifth wicket in the morning after the early loss of night watch man Vaas (10), who edged to slip. But Samaraweera's fall six minutes before lunch, as he top-edged a hook and was caught on the fence, sparked a lower order collapse with five wickets falling for 45 runs.

Tillekeratne Dilshan (three) was snapped up at slip off Pollock, Romesh Kaluwitharana (seven) edged to the wicket-keeper and then Sangakkara was caught at slip off Pollock.

Rangana Herath then chopped a Makhaya Ntini delivery on to leave the hosts on 437 for nine before Upul Chandana frustrated South Africa with a useful cameo of 40, adding 33 runs for the last wicket with Lasith Malinga. Pollock finished with four for 81 from 30 overs of probing and intelligent swing bowling.

SCOREBOARD