Elgar, du Plessis tons build huge lead

South Africa A 425 for 6 (Elgar 171, du Plessis 144) lead Sri Lanka A 170 (Kulasekara 51, Kleinveldt 4-47) by 255 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Hundreds from Dean Elgar and Faf du Plessis led South Africa A to a commanding position against Sri Lanka A in the first unofficial Test in Durban. Having resumed on 141 for 2, South Africa A asserted their authority through a 292-run stand for the third wicket. Despite losing wickets at the end of the day, they were on course to bat only once.

Elgar, who has played sparsely since making his comeback from a knee injury, was on 78 overnight and added 93 runs to his total. He spent six hours and 52 minutes at the crease and struck 19 fours in his innings. Du Plessis, who is captaining the side, scored at a slightly faster rate and his 144 came off 225 balls. The pair put on a chanceless stand, characterised by patience as Sri Lanka's bowlers showed discipline, although they lacked incisiveness.

Sri Lanka A finally made a breakthrough when du Plessis was caught at first slip, 15 overs after the second new ball was taken. Two balls later, Elgar was dismissed in similar fashion, giving Kaushal Silva a catch off a thin outside edge.

South Africa A lost their third wicket in four overs when Thami Tsolekile was trapped lbw by Kosala Kulasekara. Tsolekile has been widely tipped as the replacement to Mark Boucher and he had taken four catches in Sri Lanka's A's innings to boost his chances. He managed only four with the bat, though.

Farhaan Berhardien, who had an unsuccessful tour of Zimbabwe with the Twenty20 side, rebuilt with Ryan McLaren. Their partnership was worth 58 when McLaren offered a catch to short leg to end the day. Sri Lanka's bowlers have already been in the field for nearly 122 overs and still have two allrounders in Wayne Parnell and Rory Kleinveldt to dismiss before they can bat again.