Marvan marches remorsefully on

When the dark clouds descended on this ground and the players left the field for bad light, it would have been the South Africans who were most relieved. In the final session of a tense days test cricket, the initiative swung emphatically towards Sri Lanka. Shaun Pollocks men now know that a test series defeat can only be avoided by a herculean performance tomorrow morning.

Sri Lanka had begun the day well aware that runs on this slow wicket runs were at a premium, that they didn't want to have to chase anything significant in the second innings and that the South African total of 253 was not far off par. The batsmen responded to the responsibility, finishing the day on 260 for the loss of just four wickets, Marvan Attapattu batting throughout the day for an undefeated 107.

Marvan Attapattu's classical century, an innings built upon sound judgment and unflappable patience, was the fifth of his career and the third on this ground. Ominously for South Africa, the 27 year old, who started his career in 1990/1 with just 1 run from his first five innings, specialises in big centuries and has already scored three double centuries, two of which have been scored at the Asgirya Stadium.

Speaking afterwards he rated this innings as second only to his double century he scored against Pakistan last month. When asked as to the secret of his success it was simple, "I just look to focus on the next ball and play each one on its merits. I just wait for the bad ball and don't mind waiting for 6 or seven overs, it doesn't matter"

For much of the day the match had been evenly contested and it was not until Attapattu was joined by the 36 year veteran, Arjuna Ranatunga (34*), who was cheered all the way to the middle by the local crowd, that Sri Lanka really grasped the initiative. The pair compiled an unbroken 78 run partnership in just 85 minutes of flowing strokeplay.

Arjuna Ranatunga, who hit five fours and one imperious lofted six off Nico Boje, had looked to dominate the South African bowlers from the start of innings. When the second new ball was taken in the 74th over of the day he thrashed a flurry of boundaries: a pull and cut off consecutive deliveries, a dismissive pull off Hayward and a perfectly timed clip off his legs to finish the days proceedings.

With Ranatunga dominating the attack Attapattu progressed smoothly through the nineties with a top edged hook and straight drive for a couple and then a textbook pull off Hayward to bring up his century off 264 balls and over five and a half hours.

He paid tribute to the role of his partners who had kept the runs flowing, but especially to Ranatunga, "I enjoyed batting with Arjuna at the end, like I do with any attacking, because they take they pressure off me and I can just keep one end going."

One man whom he owes a drink is Russel Arnold (28), who selflessly ran himself out after a mid-wicket confusion. With both batsmen stranded in the middle, Arnold made sure that he had crossed before Paul Adams had whipped off the bails.

Russel Arnold had come to the wicket after the fall of Sanath Jayasuriya (28) in the 12th over of the day. Before they were parted the opening pair added 53 for the first wicket, yet another solid start for their side.

Prior to being run out, Arnold too, had batted well. Off the mark with a well timed clip to the boundary through mid on, he had played positively, and finally looked like he would make a big score.

Mahela Jayawardene (18) replaced his teammate and played like a man who had scored a century in his last outing, which of course he had. Pulling his very first ball to long leg, he hit three boundaries in his short cameo, before being caught at first slip off Nico Boje.

Kumar Sangakkara (24) carried on the good work. Willing to use his feet to the spin of Boje and Adams he adopted a more aggressive approach to the Galle test match, twice coming down the wicket to loft handsomely over mid on. Alas he became the second batsmen to be run out when he was sent back by Attapattu.

The South African bowlers bowled tighter than they had in Galle but it was a thankless task on a pitch so slow in pace and low in bounce. Lance Klusner, called an off spinner in jest by one of the Sri Lankan players in the Singer one day series, resorted to bowling cutters from a six pace run-up with five men on the leg-side.

South Africa's greatest problem though was the bowling of their spinners. The fast bowlers were always going to find in tough, but on a pitch so conducive to spin bowling, Nico Boje's and Paul Adam's combined return of 1 for 94 from 29 overs, will have been disappointing.