South Africa 0-1 down in the two-match series must put on a record breaking performance on a spinning pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club if they are to level the series
South Africa lost opening batsman Aiden Markram in its record 490-run chase against Sri Lanka in the second Test today. Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath dismissed Markram LBW for 14.
At tea on the third day, the visitors were 38/1. Dean Elgar was not out on 14 with Theunis de Bruyn on eight.
Earlier, Sri Lanka declared its second innings on 275/5, setting the visitors 490 to win.
South Africa 0-1 down in the two-match series must put on a record breaking performance on a spinning pitch at the Sinhalese Sports Club if it has to level the series.
The highest successful run chase in Test cricket is 418 made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.
Dimuth Karunaratne continued his impressive run in the series, top scoring for Sri Lanka with 85 runs while Angelo Mathews made 71. Danushka Gunathilaka contributed 61 runs.
Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj took three wickets for 154 runs following up on his career-best nine wickets in the first innings.
South Africa has not lost a Test series to Sri Lanka since 2006.
South Africa wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock became the fastest to complete 150 dismissals in Test cricket in 35 matches when he took a catch to dismiss Karunaratne in the morning session. Australia's Adam Gilchrist had reached the milestone in 36 Tests.
Sri Lanka reached 338 in its first innings and bowled South Africa out for 124, securing a 214-run first innings lead.
Sri Lanka won the first Test in Galle by 278 runs.
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