Amla prospers, but South Africa flounder

Jul 26, 2014

AB de Villiers' presence helped South Africa begin the day on a positive note, with 45 runs coming in the first 13 overs. •AFP

Hashim Amla wore the stubborn look better. He played a few cover drives and clips off his legs, but defence was his priority•AFP

Sri Lanka's spinners were tireless, with Rangana Herath bowling 45 overs for his four wickets•AFP

Perera, in his 42nd over, completed a second five-wicket haul to bundle South Africa out for 282 and hand Sri Lanka a lead of 139•AFP

However, the next 17 overs before lunch yielded only 20 runs, at the cost of de Villiers and Quinton de Kock •AFP

However, with South Africa pulling down the shutters, Dilruwan Perera reaped reward with his flight and dip•AFP

Amla was resolute, reaching his 22nd Test century - the second slowest of his career - and was vital to South Africa avoiding the follow-on•AFP

JP Duminy did not look troubled by the spinners' stranglehold, but he did not care to make runs either. The approach backfired on him as he was dismissed for 3 off 58 balls•AFP

South Africa were 204 for 7, and Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir resisted Sri Lanka•Associated Press