Jayawardene carries on the good work

Despite another two wickets falling so far in the evening session Sri Lanka remain firmly in charge of this match and have now made 329 for five wickets at the end of the 89th over. They will go into tomorrow content that, on a wicket that is already encouraging the spinners a great deal, they remain clear favorites to now win this match.

Mahela Jayawardene is currently 67 not out and ominously for the South Africans, is belying his reputation for soft dismissals when well set, with an innings of great determination. He is though somewhat fortunate to still be at the wicket after being dropped in the 65th over by Mark Boucher off Paul Adams. On just 23 at the ball Jayawardene came forward to a ball that spun sharply and deflected off his outside edge.

His fortune appeared to embolden him and soon after he lofted Adams for a six and then pulled powerfully to the mid-wicket fence. He is batting fluently now and reached his half-century in the 72nd over off 83 balls.

Kumar Sanagakkara (23) gave him studious support at the other end, putting on 81 runs for the forth wicket before he was adjudged LBW off Nico Boje, after making the fatal mistake of going back on to his back foot to a ball of good length.

Arjuna Ranatunga, fresh from announcing his retirement from international cricket at the end of this series, then strode the crease. He failed to settle though and eventually drove low and hard to Shaun Pollock at mid-off, who pulled off a tumbling catch.

Kumar Dharamasena (4*) has now joined Mahela Jayawardene and looks content to play out the evening, especially now that South Africa has decided to take the new ball.