Johannesburg – Sri Lanka had every reason smile going into the tea break, content after they managed to bowl South Africa out for 426 before going into the last session on 46 for the loss of one wicket at the Wanderers.
The visitors suffered an early blow when a fiery Vernon Philander struck with only the fourth delivery of the Sri Lankan innings with opener Dimuth Karunaratne edging the ball to Quentin de Kock behind the wickets.
It was an otherwise dry spell for the South African bowling attack compared to the field day Nuwan Pradeep and Lahiru Kumara had with the ball in hand.
De Kock (34) and Wayne Parnell (23) made a brave stand of 47 runs after the Proteas were bashed in submission during the morning session.
South Africa lost five wickets before lunch courtesy of Nuwan Pradeep finished the morning session taking four for one in three overs.
To highlight South Africa’s struggles at the crease, the team lost five wickets for 32 runs in 12 overs before lunch.
Angelo Mathews made an early breakthrough claiming the scalp of nightwatchman and debutant Duanne Olivier (3) who survived 24 deliveries.
Lakmal was left frustrated after he induced an outside edge from Du Plessis with one run to his name, only to see Kusal Mendis drop the ball at second slip.
Du Plessis (16) was eventually sent packing when an on fire Pradeep claimed his first of four victims adding the scalps of Hashim Amla (134), Temba Bavuma (0), and Vernon Philander (0).
Kumara tied up the innings removing De Kock and Parnell to bow out with figures of 4/107.