Keshav Maharaj posted South Africa’s best figures since they were readmitted to international cricket in 1991 by taking 9-129 against Sri Lanka.
The hosts began day two on 277-9 and got to 338 before spinner Maharaj took the final wicket for the second best Test figures by a South African.
But Sri Lanka then bowled the tourists out for 124 to put them on course for victory in the second Test in Colombo.
They reached 151-3 in their second innings by the close to lead by 365.
Sri Lanka already lead the two-match series 1-0 after a 278-run win in the opening Test in which South Africa were bowled out for 126 and 73.
Left-arm spinner Maharaj’s figures at the Sinhalese Sports Club put him behind Hugh Tayfield’s 9-113 against England in 1957 in the list of South Africa’s best bowling figures in Test cricket.
Sri Lanka off-spinners Akila Dananjaya (5-52) and Dilruwan Perera (4-40) also found the conditions to their liking as South Africa were bowled out inside 35 overs without having to face a single delivery of seam bowling – while Maharaj took the new ball in Sri Lanka’s second innings and has so far bowled unchanged, capturing two more wickets.
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