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COLOMBO, Aug 13: Sanath Jayasuriya was an unlikely hero with the ball as Sri Lanka took control of the second and final Test against South Africa at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground here on Friday.
Jayasuriya returned a career-best haul of 5-34 as South Africa were bowled out for their lowest ever score against Sri Lanka on the third day. Sri Lanka, who gained a huge 281-run lead after South Africa could manage just a measly 189 in reply to 470, were 211-4 at close.
Thilan Samaraweera (21) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (23) were the not out batsmen as the home side went 492 runs ahead with six wickets in hand, thanks to half-centuries from Marvan Atapattu and Kumar Sangakkara.
Jayasuriya could not shine with the bat but he did his bit earlier in the day by taking his second five-for in 92 matches to put the home side in sight of their first Test series win over South Africa.
Jayasuriya struck twice early this morning and once in the second session to annihilate the opposition in the company of other left-arm spinner Rangan Herath, who finished with three wickets.
South Africa, who lost their last nine wickets for a mere 80 runs, had their previous lowest against Sri Lanka at Centurian in 1997-98 when they were out for 200. Jayasuriya kept Sri Lanka on top as he took the important wickets of captain Graeme Smith (65) and Jacques Kallis (13) before coming on to remove tail-ender Mornantau Hayward in a new spell.
Jayasuriya, who had dismissed Martin Van Jaarsveld and Nicky Boje in the same over late on Thursday, came up with another twin-blow as he took Smith's return catch and bowled Kallis in successive overs.
Herath took inspiration from the former captain as he sent the opposition in a spin after lunch. He had Boeta Dippenaar caught at silly-point and then trapped Shaun Pollock lbw in the very next over as the batsman tried to sweep. Makhaya Ntini was foxed with a delivery that came in rather than going away.
Sri Lanka, who decided not to enforce a follow-on, got some quick runs in their second innings through Atapattu and Sangakkara, who put on 96 runs for the second wicket.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka (1st innings) 470 (K. Sangakkara 232, M. Jayawardene 82, S. Jayasuriya 43, U. Chandana 40, Pollock 4-81)
South Africa (1st innings) (overnight 116-3)
G. Smith c and b Jayasuriya 65
H. Gibbs lbw b Vaas 0
M. Van Jaarsveld c S'kara b Jayasuriya 51
N. Boje b Jayasuriya 0
J. Kallis b Jayasuriya 13
J. Rudolph c Kaluwitharana b Malinga 6
B. Dippenaar c Dilshan b Herath 25
M. Boucher not out 10
S. Pollock lbw b Herath 1
M. Ntini b Herath 0
M. Hayward b Jayasuriya 1
Extras (b1, lb8, nb8) 17
Total 189
Fall of wkts: 1-1, 2-109, 3-109, 4-140, 5-141, 6-166, 7-186, 8-188, 9-188
Bowling: Vaas 7-3-10-1, Malinga 13-1-51-1, Herath 25-6-60-3, Chandana 6-0-21-0, Dilshan 4-1-4-0, Jayasuriya 14.1-4-34-5
Sri Lanka (2nd innings)
M. Atapattu b Rudolph 72
S. Jayasuriya st Boucher b Boje 19
K. Sangakkara c Ntini b Kallis 64
M. Jayawardene c Boucher b Kallis 3
T. Samaraweera not out 21
T. Dilshan not out 23
Extras (b6, lb1, nb1, w1) 9
Total (for four wickets) 211
Fall of wkts: 1-46, 2-142, 3-149, 4-179
Bowling: Pollock 8-0-46-0, Ntini 4-0-19-0, Boje 23-6-81-1, Hayward 3-1-15-0, Smith 4-0-15-0, Kallis 6-4-6-2, Rudolph 7-2-22-1. -AFP
