Sri Lanka struggled on the third day of the Gebakha Test. But at the end of the day's play, South Africa were well ahead.
Sri Lanka took the wickets of Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton in the last session. But the pairing of Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma let them down. The duo's unbeaten 82-run partnership gave the Proteas a 221-run lead.
A total of 116 runs were scored in 36 overs in the last session. Only two wickets fell. Tony De Georgi departed in the second session with Markram for an opening partnership of 55 runs.
Markram scored his first fifty of the series. But when he and Rickelton lost quick wickets, Sri Lanka had a chance to get back into the match. Bavuma and Stubbs stood in front of them with excellent batting. South Africa took the day with their strong batting.
Earlier, Patterson took five wickets for the first time to give South Africa a 30-run lead in the first innings.
Sri Lanka started the day's play with 242 runs for 3 wickets. In reply to the hosts' 358 runs, they were all out for 328 runs. Angelo Mathews (44) and Kamindu Mendis (48), the two unbeaten batsmen of the previous day, missed half-centuries.
In response, South Africa scored 191 runs for three wickets. Markram scored 55 runs. Stubbs is unbeaten on 36 runs. Bavuma (48) two runs away from fifty.
