COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Keshav Maharaj returned the second best figures by a South African bowler in a Test innings but Sri Lanka took a firm step towards a 2-0 series sweep after thoroughly dominating day two of the second and final Test yesterday.

South Africa’s spin frailties were laid bare once again as the tourists collapsed for 124 to concede a first-innings lead of 214 runs at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground.

Sri Lanka, who made 338 in the first innings, were 151-3 at stumps after deciding not to impose follow-on against the tourists who now stare at the possibility of a second successive Test defeat inside three days.

Dimuth Karunaratne was batting on 59 at stumps, his fourth successive 50-plus knock in the series, with Angelo Mathews on 12 at the other end.

For South Africa, left arm-spinner Maharaj took his match-haul to 11 wickets but his team were in dire straits.

Earlier resuming the day on 277 for nine, Akila Dananjaya and Rangana Herath frustrated South Africa with a dogged 74-run stand for the final wicket before Maharaj struck when the latter was caught behind for 35. Dananjaya remained unbeaten on 43.

Maharaj’s 9-129 is the second best by a South African in Tests, behind only Hugh Tayfield’s 9-113 against England in 1957, but his success brought little cheer to a side battling their own spin vulnerabilities.

Herath and Dananjaya (5-42) returned from the innings break to harm South Africa with the new ball, reducing the leaden-footed tourists to 15 for three.

Dilruwan Perera (4-40) then joined the rout as South Africa lost all 10 wickets to the Sri Lankan spinners.

Faf du Plessis (48) and Quinton de Kock (32) counter-attacked but it was not enough as the tourists once again failed to reach the 150-mark in the series.

SRI LANKA 1st innings
Danushka Gunathilaka c Kagiso Rabada b Keshav Maharaj 57
Dimuth Karunaratne c Quinton de Kock b Keshav Maharaj 53
Dhananjaya de Silva lbw Keshav Maharaj 60
Kusal Mendis c Kagiso Rabada b Keshav Maharaj 21
Angelo Mathews c Faf du Plessis b Keshav Maharaj 10
Roshen Silva b Kagiso Rabada 22
Niroshan Dickwella c Faf du Plessis b Keshav Maharaj 5
Dilruwan Perera c Lungi Ngidi b Keshav Maharaj 17
Akila Dananjaya not out 43
Suranga Lakmal c Aiden Markram b Keshav Maharaj 0
Rangana Herath c Dean Elgar b Keshav Maharaj 35
Extras: (b-4, lb-2, nb-1, w-8) 15
Total: (all out, 104.1 overs) 338
Fall of wickets: 1-116, 2-117, 3-153, 4-169, 5-223, 6-238, 7-247, 8-264, 9-264.
Bowling Dale Steyn 17-3-60-0, Kagiso Rabada 20-3-55-1 (w-2), Lungi Ngidi 14.2-1-54-0 (w-2, nb-1), Keshav Maharaj 41.1-10-129-9, Aiden Markram 8.4-1-24-0 , Dean Elgar 3-1-10–0.

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings
Aiden Markram lbw Rangana Herath 7
Dean Elgar c Dhananjaya de Silva b Akila Dananjaya 0
Theunis de Bruyn c Niroshan Dickwella b Akila Dananjaya 3
Hashim Amla c Kusal Mendis b Dilruwan Perera 19
Faf du Plessis c Niroshan Dickwella b Dilruwan Perera 48
Temba Bavuma c Kusal Mendis b Dilruwan Perera 11
Quinton de Kock lbw Akila Dananjaya 32
Keshav Maharaj c Dimuth Karunaratne b Akila Dananjaya 2
Kagiso Rabada c Angelo Mathews b Dilruwan Perera 1
Dale Steyn lbw Akila Dananjaya 0
Lungi Ngidi not out 0
Extras: (nb-1) 1
Total: (all out, 34.5 overs) 124
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-8, 3-15, 4-70, 5-85, 6-114, 7-119, 8-124, 9-124.
Bowling Dilruwan Perera 12.5-1-40-4, Akila Dananjay 13-2-52-5, Rangana Herath 9-1-32-1 (nb-1).

SRI LANKA 2nd innings
Danushka Gunathilaka c Dean Elgar b Keshav Maharaj 61
Dimuth Karunaratne not out 59
Dhananjaya de Silva lbw Keshav Maharaj 0
Kusal Mendis run-put Aiden Markram 18
Angelo Mathews not put 12
Extras: (nb-1) 1
Total: (three wkts, 34.0 overs) 151
Fall of wickets: 1-91, 2-102, 3-136.
Bowling: Keshav Maharaj 17-0-90-2, Kagiso Rabada 4-0-22-0 (nb-1), Aiden Markram 3-1-9- 0, Theunis de Bruyn 3-0-13-0, Dale Steyn 4-1-11-0, Lungi Ngidi 2-1-4-0, Dean Elgar 1-0-2-0.