Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene kept alive his team's hopes of pulling-off a big run-chase with an undefeated 77 in the second and final Test against South Africa on Monday.
Set a difficult 352-target after bowling out South Africa for 311 in the morning, Sri Lanka closed a tense fourth day on 262 for five, still needing 90 to win the series 2-0.
Jayawardene, a triple centurion in the first Test, steadied Sri Lanka after left-arm spinner Nicky Boje had struck three crucial blows either side of the tea interval to leave South Africa in the box seat.
The 29-year-old right-hander, dropped on two in the gully, soaked up the pressure in a skilful effort that so far has included seven boundaries and two glorious sixes.
Wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene (27 not out) provided good support during an unbroken 61-run sixth wicket stand.
Sri Lanka need to break the record for their highest successful run chase on home turf. The current mark stands at 326 against Zimbabwe in 1997/98.
Scorecard
South Africa (1st innings): 361 (A de Villiers 95, A Prince 86, S Pollock 57n o; M Muralitharan 5-128)
Sri Lanka (1st innings): 321 (C Vaas 64, C Kapugedera 63, F Maharoof 56; D Steyn 5-82, M Ntini 4-84)
South Africa (2nd innings): (Overnight: 257-7)
H. Gibbs c Jayasuriya b Muralitharan 92
A. Hall c P. Jayawardene b Maharoof 32
J. Rudolph run out 15
H. Amla run out 8
A. Prince c&b Muralitharan 17
A. de Villiers c Dilshan b Muralitharan 33
M. Boucher c Dilshan b Muralitharan 65
S. Pollock c Tharanga b Muralitharan 14
N. Boje c P. Jayawardene b Muralitharan 15
D. Steyn lbw b Muralitharan 0
M. Ntini not out 5
Extras: (b-9, lb-4, nb-1, w-1) 15
Total: (all out, 107.5 overs) 311
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-119, 3-131, 4-161, 5-206, 6-207, 7-235, 8-280, 9-282, 10-311.
Bowling: C. Vaas 19 - 4 - 53 0, L. Malinga 12 - 1 - 55 - 0 (nb-1), F. Maharoof 21 - 3 - 53 - 1 (w-1), M. Muralitharan 46.5 - 12 - 97 7, S. Jayasuriya 9 - 0 - 40 0.
Sri Lanka (2nd innings): (Target: 352 runs)
U. Tharanga c Gibbs b Ntini 0
S. Jayasuriya c Amla b Boje 73
K. Sangakkara c Amla b Pollock 39
M. Jayawardene not out 77
T. Dilshan c Gibbs b Boje 18
C. Kapugedera c AB de Villiers b Boje 13
P. Jayawardene not out 27.
Extras: (b-4, lb-5, nb-3, w-3) 15.
Total: (for 5 wickets, 72 overs) 262
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-94, 3-121, 4-164, 5-201
To bat: C. Vaas, L. Malinga, F. Maharoof, M. Muralitharan.
© 2026