South Africa had Sri Lanka on the rack at 205-5 in a chase of 348 on the fourth day of the second test at St George's Park on Sunday. Medium-pacer Dane Paterson and spinner Keshav Maharaj took two wickets each after fast bowler Kagiso Rabada started prising out Sri Lankans by pinning opener Dimuth Karunaratne while he was playing defense in the third over. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis took up Sri Lanka's counterattack from 122-5 in an unbeaten partnership of 83 runs. De Silva and Kusal Mendis, both 39 not out, ensured a fifth day of play but the odds remained in favor of South Africa winning the series 2-0. They are the last recognized batsmen, and the highest successful run chase at the ground was 271 by Australia 27 years ago. Karunaratne's innings came to a familiar end. He's scored 2, 4, 20 and 1 in the series and been dismissed by Rabada all four times.

Rabada and Paterson were coming around the wicket and causing doubt. The batters saw enough bad balls to relieve pressure but they had to be gritty. The other opener Pathum Nissanka was also removed before tea, poking at Paterson and edging behind on 18. Straight after tea, Paterson also trapped Dinesh Chandimal while defending. From 64-3, Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis began a recovery. But just when they were set, they were both out to Maharaj. Mathews was bowled going for a swipe on 32, and Kamindu Mendis edged behind and was caught one-handed by Kyle Verreynne on 35. De Silva and Kusal Mendis came together, hung tough and opened up as the ball got older and the bowlers got tired. The Proteas had set an imposing target even after their second bat finished just after lunch on 317 when 400 looked on. Captain Temba Bavuma, 48 overnight, reached his fourth consecutive fifty in the first over of the morning.