South Africa need five more wickets to win the first Test against Sri Lanka at St George’s Park.
The Proteas have set Sri Lanka a massive target of 488. Captain Faf du Plessis declared mid-morning on day four. The decision gave South Africa five-and-half sessions to claim 10 Sri Lankan wickets.
By the end of day four, the Proteas had taken five Sri Lanka wickets. The last of the two recognised Sri Lankan batsmen, captain Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva, will front a fired-up South African attack on day five.
The second new ball is just four overs old. One more dismissal, and the Proteas will be into the visitors’ bowlers.
Good weather is forecast for the rest of the day. Rain is unlikely to come to Sri Lanka’s aid.
SA 1st innings 286 – Duminy 63, Cook 59, Lakmal 5-63, Herath 2-48
SL 1st innings 205 – De Silva 43, Mathews 39, Philander 5-45, Abbott 3-63,
SA 2nd innings 406-6 declared – Cook 117, De Kock 69, Du Plessis 67 not out, De Silva 2-91
SL 2nd innings 240-5– Mathews 58 not out, Mendis 58, Silva 48, Rabada 2-72
Sri Lanka need 248 runs to win