Cape Town - Leus du Plooy struck a fine century but it was still Sri Lanka that held the advantage after day two of their tour match against a South African Invitation XI at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on Monday.
The young left-hander struck an attacking 142 (159 balls, 25 fours) to help the hosts reach stumps on 285/8 in reply to the tourists’ 373 all out earlier in the day.
Knights batsman Du Plooy, was the only batsman to cross 25 as the rest of his team-mates were kept in check by the visiting bowlers, who kept striking at regular intervals.
Khaya Zondo (25) and Jason Smith (22) both had good starts, while George Linde was unbeaten on 25 at stumps.
Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the bowlers with 3/36, while fellow seamer Angelo Mathews collected a 2/15. Spinner Dilruwan Perera managed 2/22 as the local XI were still 88 behind by the close.
Earlier, Du Plooy’s Knights team-mate Duanne Olivier continued his impressive season by bagging 4/54 as the subcontinent side lost their remaining four wickets on day two of the three-day contest for 45.
Dhananjaya de Silva, unbeaten on 57 overnight, fell for 62 and was one of three men bowled by Olivier.
Linde ended with 3/85.
The first Test of a three-match series against South Africa begins on Boxing Day, December 26, at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.