AB de Villiers’ 99 steers South Africa  into lead
AB de Villiers agonisingly fell for 99 on day two of the first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Centurion, but his innings helped ensure a huge first-innings lead for the hosts. At stumps the Proteas were 209 ahead on 389 for nine, with Mark Boucher 49 not out at the close as he and last man Imran Tahir (24 not out) refused to surrender their frustrating last-wicket stand.
Sri Lanka managed to get rid of danger men Hashim Amla (18) and Jacques Kallis (31) relatively cheaply but South Africa’s batting proved too deep. de Villiers’ fine innings was worthy of a 13th Test hundred but he ended one short when he was caught on the cut against three-wicket Thisara Perera.
Nightwatchman Dale Steyn fell for a duck after only eight balls, run-out by Rangana Herath after a mix-up with Jacques Rudolph.
Amla, on his favourite ground, got into his stride with an early four off Chanaka Welegedara, who would have had Rudolph’s wicket soon after had Mahela Jayawardene not shelled the catch at slip.
Amla picked up four more off Dilhara Fernando and was then gifted four overthrows by a wayward throw. He had another moment of fortune when a thick edge raced to the third man boundary, but his luck ran out when he drove at Perera only to feed Angelo Mathews a catch at third slip.
Rudolph was going slowly but steadily at the other end, leaving Kallis to announce himself with a muscular four past point. The opener finally fell after 140 deliveries, Perera drawing the edge and Tharanga Paranavitana pouching the catch.
Kallis helped himself to three boundaries off a single Perera over as he looked to dominate proceedings, adding another before ducking into a Fernando delivery that did not get up enough and crashed painfully into the side of his grille.
After a lengthy delay, during which he was treated for a cut near the ear and staggered after getting back to his feet, he bravely continued his knock.
He should have gone for 27 the over before lunch when he nicked Fernando to Kaushal Silva but the wicketkeeper made a hash of the catch and Kallis remained. The all-rounder did not last long after lunch, Mathews again safe in the cordon when Kallis edged Welegedara to fall for 31. (PA Sport )

SRI LANKA first innings 180; V. Philander 5-53; D. Steyn 4-18.
SOUTH Africa first innings o/n 90 for 1
J. Rudolph c Paranavitana b Perera    44
G. Smith lbw b Fernando    61
D. Steyn  run-out (Herath)    0
H. Amla c Mathews b Perera    18
J. Kallis c Mathews b Welegedara    31
AB de Villiers c sub. b Perera    99
A. Prince c wkp. Silva b Mathews    39
M. Boucher not out    49
V. Philander c Jayawardene b Dilshan    4
M. Morkel c Samaraweera b Welegedara    4
I. Tahir not out    24
Extras: (b-1, lb-1, w-3, nb-11)    16
Total:  (9 wickets, 118 overs)    389
Fall of wickets: 1-88, 2-90, 3-125, 4-136, 5-173, 6-270, 7-303, 8-344, 9-350.
Bowling: C. Welegedara  29-4-87-2 (nb-1, w-1) N. Perera  24-1-114-3 (w-1), A. Matthews 9-4-13-1, D. Fernando 26-2-115-1 (nb-6, w-1) T. Dilshan 7-1-17-1, R. Herath 23-4-41-0.