South Africa Vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test at Centurian Day2 Cricinfo,Live Score,Highlights

Lunch South Africa 453 for 4 (de Villiers 84*) v Sri Lanka

There was a sense of déjà vu as the action unfolded on the second morning at Newlands. Sri Lanka were systematically deflated in the pre-lunch session, raising visions of a nightmarish day, such as the one India had endured a few hours earlier in a different part of the world. Like Michael Clarke in Sydney, Jacques Kallis strolled inevitably to a double-century in front of his home crowd. Like in Centurion, where he had scored his only previous double-ton in December 2010, Kallis had AB de Villiers for company when he reached the landmark. Back then, de Villiers had smashed the fastest century by a South African. This time he was on the verge of a more sedate but equally assured ton, though Kallis succumbed to boredom at the stroke of lunch.

Sri Lanka began the day against two world-class batsmen, under bright sunshine, with the pitch at the flattest it is likely to be over the course of the Test. As if to reiterate their woeful position, five of the first 12 balls sped to the boundary. Two of those were outside edges from de Villiers that ran through a sparsely populated slip cordon, but Sri Lanka couldn't have been blamed for not having too many catchers. The three other boundaries were vintage Kallis strokes, unfurled seemingly for the benefit of those who may have missed the first day's action - the sumptuous cover drive, the violent pull in front of square, and the coaxed on-drive that gained speed as it bounded down the ground.

Sri Lanka had their rare moments, but weren't alert enough to make them count. Dhammika Prasad got one to take Kallis' edge as it moved away off the seam, but Mahela Jayawardene couldn't hold on to a regulation take at second slip. That was in the third over of the day, and by the time the second chance came, Sri Lanka were down to just one fly slip. Angelo Mathews produced a nifty legcutter that reared up alarmingly and jumped away, though it was delivered at a speed of just 121 kph. Kallis fended and got another edge, but Jayawardene couldn't reach it as he dived desperately to the left.

The fields were spread out, but the runs flowed generously all the same. Sri Lanka managed only two maidens in the session, and the first one left Welegedara pleasantly surprised as Kallis shouldered arms six times. Their plight was epitomised by a breath-taking stroke from de Villiers off Mathews. The ball landed short of a length, well outside off stump, with the field set on the off side. Only mid-on, deep backward square leg and deep midwicket patrolled the leg side, and de Villiers tagetted the gap at wide mid-on by skipping across audaciously and whipping against the angle.

A robust cut and another punched drive through mid-on took Kallis through the 190s, and he brought up the double by chopping Perera through point. Just as murmurs of a first 300 by a South African batsman began to do the rounds, Kallis lost his concentration and gifted Rangana Herath his wicket with a feeble lofted drive. That breach gave Sri Lanka some heart after Herath had got a few to spin and bounce sharply. de Villiers and the lower order, though, will be keen on keeping them on the field for the bulk of the day.

Srilanka Vs South Africa Centurion Test Day2 Cricinfo,highlights

Tea South Africa 257 for 5 (de Villiers 56*, Prince 38*) lead Sri Lanka 180 by 77 runs

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South Africa were building a useful advantage by tea on the second day in Centurion, although they had been made to work hard by a spirited Sri Lanka bowling attack. Thisara Perera took two wickets during an impressive morning-session spell and Jacques Kallis was roughed up by Dilhara Fernando before falling shortly after lunch, but AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince formed an unbroken stand of 84 as South Africa held a lead of 77.

When Kallis edged Chanaka Welegedara to third slip South Africa were 173 for 5, still seven runs behind, and the contest was heading back towards an even keel. Sri Lanka came close to another breakthrough as Prince began his innings in charmed fashion with one edge wide of the slips and another over their heads. On 23 he was given a life when Perera couldn't hold a low chance in the gully and his partnership with de Villiers started to reassert South Africa's control.

de Villiers didn't over attack during his innings, which was a criticism of some of his batting against Australia, but kept the scoreboard ticking. Before lunch he had driven straight down the ground beautifully and during the afternoon he helped himself to a couple of pull shots when the quicks dropped short. His fifty came from 91 balls and, on a surface offering assistance, was shaping up to be a match-defining innings.

Some of Tillakaratne Dilshan's tactics were also odd as he allowed easy singles off Rangana Herath and also briefly bowled himself in tandem with Herath. He needed to be mindful of the runs conceded, but it allowed too many releases for the batsmen.

South Africa began the day on 90 for 1 and Dale Steyn, the nightwatchman, didn't hold up the visitors for long when he worked the ball into the leg side and appeared absent-minded to the fact it had gone straight to Herath, who hit the stumps after Steyn had sauntered down the pitch.

There continued to be plenty of assistance for the quick bowlers - the morning pitch report had shown indentations forming on the surface - and life wasn't easy for South Africa's batsmen. Jacques Rudolph, battling the pain of his dislocated finger from the first day, struggled for fluency and was put down at second slip on 30, when Mahela Jayawaradene couldn't hold a tough chance to his left.

Hashim Amla was more fluent, especially through the off side, but had there been a third slip he may have departed for 14, when he edged Welegedara. Dilshan at least noted the near miss and posted an extra catcher when Perera came into the attack. It brought an immediate result. Angelo Mathews held a sharp chance, low to his right, when Amla went to drive a delivery that wasn't as full as he thought.

Perera had been disappointing the previous evening with the new ball, but settled into a probing spell and found significant seam movement. He was rewarded with a second wicket when he found Rudolph's outside edge with another delivery that nipped away from the left-hand batsman to end a 140-ball stay.

Kallis had started his innings in fine style, and took three boundaries off an over against Perera, but badly misjudged the length of a Fernando short ball. He ducked straight into the delivery which smashed him on the side of the helmet and immediately lay on the ground as the physio - and later the team doctor - checked him over. He had been cut on the ear and appeared unsteady as he got to his feet, but resumed his innings.

It was an opportunity for Sri Lanka to make life hard for him and Fernando should have gained the crucial scalp for his hard work when Kallis, on 27, edged to Kaushal Silva only for the wicketkeeper, who went one-handed to his right, to palm the ball away. Such a miss could have been hugely costly, but Kallis only added four more after the break.

Srilanka Vs South Africa Centurion Test Day1 Cricinfo,highlights

Srilanka 180/9 

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South Africa claimed the honours on the opening morning at Centurion as they bagged three wickets after putting Sri Lanka in to bat on a green pitch, although they may have expected greater success. Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander struck in quick succession early on, before Tharanga Paranavitana and Mahela Jayawardene, who was closing in on 10,000 Test runs, steadied the visitors. Philander broke the resistance with his second scalp 15 minutes before lunch.

Both captains were eager to bowl and when the coin landed in Graeme Smith's favour, it meant a severe test for Sri Lanka's top order. At 12 for 2 something quite ugly was a distinct possibility but a stand of 54 for the third wicket ensured that Sri Lanka weren't out of the contest after a session.

By nature Tillakaratne Dilshan can be a hit-or-miss batsman, but his team deserved better from their captain than the horrid shot he played in the fifth over. Having driven the first boundary of the match in the previous over from Philander, he then tried to hoist Steyn over the leg side and only succeeded in lofting a simple catch to mid-on. Even the South Africa players looked surprised.

The warning signs were flashing three deliveries later when Philander claimed the key scalp of Kumar Sangakkara who had passed a late fitness test on the split webbing he picked up during the warm-up match in Benoni. Unlike Dilshan's dismissal, this was a genuine Test-quality wicket - Philander made a ball rear off a length to find an edge that flew to second slip.

Morne Morkel replaced Steyn, who was used lightly during the session, after a four-over opening spell and began by cracking Paranavitana on the side of the helmet as he took his eyes off a short ball. It wasn't the only blow that Paranavitana took and he also kept the slips interested, before life became a touch easier against a less-threatening Jacques Kallis and the surprise introduction for Imran Tahir.

Jayawardene started the innings 46 away from becoming the first Sri Lanka batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs. He also had nervous moments but showed his class by trying to play the ball as late as possible. On 12 he survived a loud appeal for caught behind but replays showed Smith was right not to review the decision as the ball brushed the back leg.

With Tahir brought on for the 20th over, it appeared Sri Lanka may be let off the hook leading into the lunch break, but Philander ensured the advantage remained with the hosts when he swung one between bat and pad against a static Paranavitana.