Sri Lanka took four wickets in the first session to make a strong start to the second and final test against South Africa on Thursday and boost its chances of an historic series victory.
No Asian team has won a test series in South Africa but Sri Lanka looked capable of doing what India and Pakistan have failed to do after reducing the home team to 73-4 by lunch on day one in Port Elizabeth.
Sri Lanka already leads the series 1-0 after an against-the-odds victory in Durban and needs just a draw in the second test.
Sri Lanka's bowler Kasun Rajitha, right, follows through on his delivery as umpire Ian Gould of England watches on during day one of the second cricket test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Thursday Feb. 21, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Sheehan)
Left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando gave Sri Lanka its compelling start when he bowled Dean Elgar (6) and Hashim Amla (0) off successive balls in the sixth over. Kasun Rajitha ran out Temba Bavuma in the next over with a direct hit at the non-striker's end as Sri Lanka took three wickets in the space of six balls and South Africa was 15-3.
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis made 25 in a 58-run partnership with Aiden Markram but he was bowled by opposing skipper Dimuth Karunaratne right on lunch to make it a fantastic start to the test for Sri Lanka.
Fernando, who is playing in just his fifth test, produced two high-quality deliveries to get rid of Elgar and Amla. He swung the ball in to the left-handed Elgar to knock his off stump out of the ground. He then made the ball move in the other direction to bowl the right-handed Amla for a first-ball duck.
South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis plays a side shot on day one of the second cricket Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Thursday Feb. 21, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Sheehan)
Bavuma backed up too far trying to look for a quick single, and couldn't get back to the non-striker's end in time to beat a throw at the stumps from Rajitha at mid-on.
Karunaratne, a part-time bowler, brought himself on right at the end of the session and bowled Du Plessis with his fifth ball to leave the Proteas in trouble.
Opener Markram was 37 not out.
Sri Lanka's bowler Suranga Lakmal, right, bowls as South Africa's batsman Aiden Markram watches on during day one of the second cricket test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Thursday Feb. 21, 2019. (AP PhotoMichael Sheehan)
Sri Lanka won the series opener by one wicket after Kusal Perera's 153 not out and a last-wicket partnership of 78 with Fernando, who has been central to Sri Lanka's efforts, saw the tourists chase down 304 for a remarkable victory. The success by an inexperienced Sri Lanka team, which had two debutants and a new captain, came against all expectations.
For the second test, Sri Lanka selected the same team.
South Africa made one change, bringing in allrounder Wiaan Mulder for his debut in place of seam bowler Vernon Philander, who hasn't recovered from the left hamstring injury that sidelined him for the last day of the first test.
South Africa hasn't lost a series at home since early 2016, by England, and Sri Lanka's win in Durban ended a run of seven straight home series wins for the South Africans.
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