GALLE, Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka opener Upul Tharanga completed a half-century on Friday as the hosts reached 104-3 at lunch on the third day of the first test in reply to South Africa's first innings score of 455-9 declared.
Resuming at 30-0, Sri Lanka was steadied by Tharanga's 65 not out but pacemen Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel shared three wickets to keep the pressure on the home side.
Tharanga, who is playing his first test for six years, struck 12 fours so far in his fourth test fifty. He added 59 runs for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara, who was out for 24 just when he had settled well.
Opener Kaushal Silva was gone early for eight and lunch was taken when Mahela Jayawardene was dismissed for three.
