COLOMBO, July 27: Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene cracked half centuries and shared an unbeaten 114-run stand for the third wicket Thursday to place Sri Lanka in the lead at stumps on the first day of the first cricket Test against South Africa.

Earlier seam bowler Dilhara Fernando and spinner Muttiah Muralitharan set Sri Lanka's momentum as they ripped through the visitors' batting, snaring four wickets each to dismiss South Africa for 169 runs in its first innings.

At stumps the hosts were 128 for two with Sangakkara unbeaten on 59 and Jayawardene unbeaten on 55.

Surviving twice early in the innings through a dropped catch and being bowled off a no ball from paceman Dale Steyn, Sangakkara struck 10 fours for his score, made in 66 balls.

Jayawardene looked more in control of his batting and faced 76 balls. He hit seven fours. The pair rescued Sri Lanka from a possible collapse after an aggressive spell from Steyn left them 2 down for 14.

Sanath Jayasuriya was trapped leg before for four runs and his partner Upul Tharanga gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Mark Bouncher for seven. Steyn finished the day with 2-30 off six overs.

Earlier, South Africa won the toss and elected to bat, and openers Andrew Hall and Herschelle Gibbs shared 32 runs before Fernando bowled Hall with a well disguised slow ball for 17.

Thirteen runs later, Fernando bowled another inswinger that hit the stumps off Gibbs' pads. Gibbs made 19.

Jacques Rudolph and Hashim Amla put together a 33-run partnership to give South Africa 78-2 at the lunch break. But two balls into the second session, seamer Ferveez Maharoof broke through when Rudolph was caught by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene for 29.

Later Muralitharan took the crucial wickets of Amla (19), Boucher (4) and finally AB de Villers.

Coming in at No.6, De Villers was South Africa's lone performer, striking 65 off 72 balls, including three fours. Fernando finished with 4-48 in 13 overs while Muralitharan recorded 4-41.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA (1st Innings)

H.H. Gibbs b Fernando 19

A.J. Hall b Fernando 17

J.A. Rudolph c P.Jayawardene b Maharoof 29

H.M. Amla st P Jayawardene b Muralitharan 19

A.G. Prince c P. Jayawardene b Maharoof 1

A.B. de Villiers c Kapugedera b Muralitharan 65

M.V. Boucher c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan 4

N. Boje lbw b Muralitharan 5

A. Nel lbw b Fernando 0

D.W. Steyn b Fernando 0

M. Ntini not out 0

EXTRAS (b-4, lb-6) 10

TOTAL: (50.2 overs) 169

FALL OF WKTS: 1-32, 2-45, 3-78, 4-80, 5-112, 6-128, 7-148, 8-151 9-151, 10-169.

BOWLING: Malinga 10-2-38-0, Maharoof 9-1-32-2, Fernando 13-2-48-4, Muralitharan 18.2-6-41-4.

SRI LANKA (1st Innings)

W.U. Tharanga c Boucher b Steyn 7

S.T. Jayasuriya lbw b Steyn 4

K. C. Sangakkara not out 59

D.M.P.D Jayawardene not out 55

EXTRAS (2nb, 1w) 3

TOTAL: (two wickets, 26 overs) 128

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-6, 2-14

To bat: T.M. Dilshan, C.K. Kapugedera, M.F. Maharoof, H.A.P.W. Jayawadena, M Muralitharan, S.L. Malinga and C.R.D. Fernando

BOWLING (to date): Ntini 7-3-22-0, Steyn 6-0-30-2, Nel 6-0-32-0, Hall 5-0-34-0, Boje 2-0-10-0.

SOUTH AFRICA won toss

UMPIRES: M.R. Benson (England) and B.F. Bowden (New Zealand)

TV UMPIRE: E.A.R de Silva

MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India)

—Agencies