19 wickets and a hat-trick but Sri Lanka on top against Eastern Province

Sri Lanka began the serious business of their three Test tour of South Africa as if they meant serious business.

After the hit-and-giggle frivolity of Nicky Oppenheimer's game, they began their preparations for the coming internationals by dismissing Eastern Province in a session and three balls to take a stranglehold on their three-day match in Port Elizabeth.

When they went into bat, the pitch miraculously flattened out and at the close the tourists had cantered along to 253 for nine - despite the fact that Garnet Kruger produced a hat-trick in the final session.

Sri Lanka lead by 161, and having seen 19 wickets tumble on day one this game has every chance of being concluded on the second.

The Jumbos never got out of the blocks after they lost the toss and were inserted on a green pitch under morning cloud cover.

Only James Bryant reached double figures - his 37 being far and away the best knock of the innings as his side stumbled to 92 for nine at lunch and were skittled in the over following it.

Seamer Dilhara Fernando finished with figures of four for 27 from 11 overs on the kind of pitch he probably wishes he could pack up and transport back to Colombo.

Mutiah Muralitharan weaved his magic for the first time on the tour taking two for nine from six overs as he managed to deceive Murray Creed well enough to bowl him, and then turn another on Shafiek Abrahams to have him leg before wicket.

Sri Lanka made a serene start in reply openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu each cracking five fours as they raced to 85 in 20 overs before the home side got the breakthrough.

Jayasuriya (38) was taken at first slip as he drove at Nantie Hayward and Kruger followed up in the next over dismissing Atapattu for 42 to catch to the keeper.

The third wicket pair of Kumar Sangakkara (37) and Mahela Jayawardene (87) carried Sri Lanka into a commanding lead with a 91-run partnership before Kruger produced his hat-trick.

Sangakkara began the mini-collapse when he was caught at midwicket and Kruger then had Russel Arnold lbw and grabbed the third when Tillekeratne Dilshan edged to Justin Kemp at second slip.

A 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Jayawardene and Romesh Kaluwitharana halted the slide but then four wickets in the space of 12 runs reined in the tourists.

Justin Kemp took two wickets in two balls but a second hat-trick was avoided by Mutiah Muralitharan who was not out on two at the close with Zoysa (19 not out).