South Africa lose openers cheaply to spin

Sri Lanka spinners Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera launched an early assault to have South Africa down on the mat on the second day of the series-deciding second Test today.

The spin duo got rid of South African openers Dean Elgar (one) and Alviro Petersen (two) after Sri Lanka's first innings folded up on 421 shortly into the second session.

At tea, South Africa were 23-2 with Faf du Plessis batting on 17 and new Test skipper Hashim Amla on two.

South Africa were dealt an early blow when left-arm spinner Herath caught Petersen off his own bowling in the second over of the innings.
 

Elgar followed suit, inside-edging off-spinner Perera to short leg where Kaushal Silva dived forward to take a sharp catch.

Sri Lanka's first innings was built around a solid 165 by Mahela Jayawardene and a defiant 72-run knock on debut by Niroshan Dickwella.

South Africa wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings in the second session, starting with the dismissal of Perera who lobbed a simple catch to Amla off leg-spinner Imran Tahir (1-121).

Sri Lanka lost their second wicket to a run-out dismissal when Dickwella failed to make his ground while taking a cheeky single. Dickwella hit one six and eight fours in his 116-ball 72.

Vernon Philander then had Ajantha Mendis and Suranga Lakmal caught behind in successive overs to bring an end to the Sri Lankan first innings.