Faf Du Plessis: South Africa can get better'

Resuming on 240-5 chasing an unlikely 488 for victory, Sri Lanka crashed to 281 all out at St George's Park. Du Plessis was delighted with his bowling attack but claims the batting line-up can improve its contribution.

""The seam attack time and time again have proved they can do it with three bowlers and they almost do it better, taking on the responsibility," Faf du Plessis, celebrating with Kagiso Rabada, said.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes his side have another 20 per cent to give, despite its comfortable first-Test victory over Sri Lanka on Friday. The Proteas needed just over an hour to claim the five wickets they required to wrap up a 206-run success on the final day in Port Elizabeth, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Resuming on 240-5 chasing an unlikely 488 for victory, Sri Lanka crashed to 281 all out at St George's Park. Du Plessis was delighted with his bowling attack — Kyle Abbott, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj all among the wickets in both innings — but claims the batting line-up can improve its contribution.

"As a team we're flying at 80 per cent, there's another 20 per cent in the tank and we can get better," Du Plessis said in his post-match presentation. There's quality in our bowling attack but I'd certainly like for the batters to be a bit more consistent and continue to do really, really well.

"I felt we could have got 50 more [in the first innings] but an 80 lead [from 286] was fantastic. Yesterday [Thursday] the bowlers toiled and today we got great benefits. All in all it was a very good team effort. The bowlers were relentless in line and lengths and set it up for this morning.

"The seam attack time and time again have proved they can do it with three bowlers and they almost do it better, taking on the responsibility. There's a lot of emphasis on the spinner to make sure we can rotate the seamers and Kesh has been doing a good job of late."