Sri Lanka closes in on whitewash of South Africa

By stumps, Sri Lanka's spinners had ripped their way through the Proteas batsmen yet again to leave them reeling on 139 for 5 in pursuit of an improbable 490 in Colombo.

Rangana Herath took two wickets apiece.

Sri Lanka closed in on a series whitewash against South Africa on Sunday, leaving the visitors five down and with a mountain to climb on the third day of the second Test.

By stumps, Sri Lanka's spinners had ripped their way through the Proteas batsmen yet again to leave them reeling on 139 for 5 in pursuit of an improbable 490 in Colombo.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Against visiting batsmen clearly deciding that attack was the best form of defence, off-spinner Akila Dananjaya and left-arm spinner Rangana Herath took two wickets apiece, with off-spinner Dilruwan Perera also dismissing Dean Elgar.

Having skittled out the visitors for 124 in their first innings and secured a 214-run lead, the hosts earlier declared on 275 for five, chasing their first series win over South Africa since 2006.

South Africa's bowlers toiled for 47 overs to dismiss just the overnight pair of Dimuth Karunaratne - caught behind for 85 off fast bowler Lungi Ngidi and Angelo Mathews.