GALLE, Sri Lanka : South Africa pace bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel struck twice each Sunday as Sri Lanka was reduced to 161-6 at lunch on the final day chasing a target of 370 in the first cricket test.
Steyn dismissed overnight batsman Kaushal Silva (38) and left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne (12), while Morkel accounted for the caught behind dismissals of Mahela Jayawardene (10) and Dinesh Chandimal (1) as Sri Lanka slipped badly from its overnight score of 110-1.
Steyn has figures of 3-36 so far, while Morkel is 2-15. Jean-Paul Duminy chipped in with the important wicket of a well-set Kumar Sangakkara for 76 as Sri Lanka's hopes of pulling off a big run chase dwindled.
At the break, captain Angelo Mathews was batting on eight with Dilruwan Perera yet to score. Sangakkara led a fine revival earlier on the fourth day, but South Africa showed it was capable of taking wickets with fast bowling on a pitch traditionally known to help spinners.
Steyn got the breakthrough when he had Silva caught behind with a superb low one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, then had Thirimanne caught at second slip by A.B. de Villiers.
Sangakkara, whose catch was put down by wicketkeeper de Kock off Morkel on 65, was out playing a loose shot. He pulled a short delivery from Duminy straight to Hashim Amla at short mid-wicket. Sangakkara, 58 overnight, struck one six and nine fours.
