Faf du Plessis brought up his tenth Test century as the Proteas reached lunch on day three against Sri Lanka on 435-5, a lead of 39 runs.
The former skipper and Temba Bavuma resumed the Proteas’ first innings on 317-4 on Monday morning, edging away towards Sri Lanka’s total of 396.
It didn’t take long for Bavuma to get to his 14th Test half-century but a moment of madness saw him depart shortly before lunch for 71 after being given out caught behind off the bowling of Dasun Shanaka. Replay, however, showed there was clear daylight between bat and ball.
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The wicket brought an end to the brilliant 179-run partnership between Bavuma and Du Plessis, who was joined by Wiaan Mulder in the middle.
Du Plessis drove spinner Wanindu Hasaranga for four in the following over to bring up his milestone and reached the lunch break unbeaten on 112 with Mulder on 18.
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Squads:
Proteas: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock (c) (wk), Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne (C) KJ Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara.
