Close South Africa 378 for 7 (Kallis 75*, Smith 73, Kirsten 55) lead Sri Lanka 192 by 186 runs
Scorecard

A patient innings by Jacques Kallis and the banning of controversial fast bowler Ruchira Perera for running on the wicket combined to halt a Sri Lankan fightback on the second day of the first Test at the Wanderers Stadium. Kallis made an unbeaten 75 as South Africa reached 378 for 7 at the close of play, a lead of 186.

The afternoon was a disappointment for Sri Lanka after they had battled back into the game, reducing South Africa to 180 for 5, with Hasantha Fernando taking the first three wickets in an impressive spell. Chaminda Vaas then took two wickets in three balls as South Africa's grip on the game was loosened.

But Perera's ban, which followed two official warnings, reduced Sanath Jayasuriya's bowling options as Kallis, assisted by Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock and Andrew Hall, set about repairing the damage. Sri Lanka hardly helped their cause by conceding 62 extras, only nine short of the world record, including 31 no-balls.

Perera, who was reported for throwing after the Lord's Test in May, was warned twice by umpire Russell Tiffin for running on the protected area in his follow through. Perera switched ends but was warned by umpire Daryl Harper after bowling two balls in his 11th over and he was removed from the attack and banned from bowling for the rest of the innings.

In the morning South Africa seemed on the way to taking a stranglehold on the match when Graeme Smith and Gary Kirsten put on 133 for the first wicket. Fernando was brought into the attack in the 31st over and took a wicket with his second ball in Test cricket when Smith edged a low catch to Hashan Tillekeratne at first slip after scoring 73. Bowling at medium-pace and getting lift and movement off the pitch, Fernando struck again with his 14th delivery when Martin van Jaarsveld was bowled for 3 by a ball which jagged back between bat and pad (146 for 2).

Fernando claimed his third wicket in a spell of 3 for 33 in 10 overs when Kirsten steered a catch to Muttiah Muralitharan at backward point after making 55 (175 for 3). Vaas followed up by taking the wickets of the out-of-form Ashwell Prince for 3 (179 for 4) and Neil McKenzie lbw for a first-ball duck (180 for 5).

Kallis and Boucher put on 69 for the sixth wicket before Boucher was caught for 38 in the over before tea when he glanced Muralitharan down the legside for wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara to hold a good catch (249 for 6). It was a rare success on an otherwise frustratingly insipid day for Muralitharan.

Kallis and Pollock (38) added 80 for the seventh wicket before Hall (31 not out) helped Kallis see out the day during an unbeaten eighth-wicket stand of 49. Kallis was at his most obdurate, batting almost five hours and facing 212 balls.

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