GALLE, Aug 5: Sri Lanka coach John Dyson hailed Mahela Jayawardene's innings of 237 in the first Test against South Africa as "magnificent". Jayawardene powered Sri Lanka to a total of 486 with his 410-ball knock spanning eight-and-a-half hours and including 25 fours and three sixes.

"It was a magnificent innings," Dyson told reporters after the second day. "I can't think of a single chance that he gave during the course of the innings - he just batted beautifully," he added.

"He was aggressive in his approach and he ran really well between the wickets. "We were expecting to get between the 350 to 400 but that was fantastic partnership between Mahela (Jayawardene) and Chaminda (Vaas)."

"We are now very happy with how the day has gone." Acting captain Mark Boucher, standing in for Graeme Smith who was laid low with a virus, remained upbeat after South Africa closed on 82 without loss. "I thought the guys fought back really well," Boucher told reporters. "They struck a nice balance between attack and defence." -Reuters