Proteas Requires 331 runs to Second Test

Colombo: South Africa need 331 runs to defeat Sri Lanka with nine wickets remaining after day four of the second Test ended with the hosts piling up a total of 229 runs in their second innings on a day that saw rain and bad lighting conditions.

Kumar Sangakkara and skipper Angelo Mathews struck brisk half-centuries to help Sri Lanka set up a thrilling finale to the series-deciding second Test against South Africa on Sunday. Sangakkara (72) hit his tenth 50-plus score of the year and Mathews chipped in with an unbeaten 63 as the hosts declared their second innings on 229 for 8 shortly before close of play to set the visitors an imposing target of 369.

Faf du Plessis caught Kithuruwan Vithanage for his individual score of seven off Morne Morkel's delivery. Niroshan Dickwella got caught by A B de Villiers for his individual score of 16 off Dale Steyn's delivery.

Imran Tahir claimed Dilruwan Perera's wicket for his individual score of seven runs, while De Villiers caught Rangana Herath's for his individual score of four on Morkel's delivery.

Morkel claimed four wickets while Steyn and Tahir claimed two wickets each.

South Africa went in to bat after the hosts broke the innings at 229 runs. The visitors amassed 38 runs for the loss of one wicket and will open play on the final day of the Test with Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock batting for the host side.

Elgar is batting at his individual score of 13 while De Kock is playing on 21 runs. South African opener Alviro Petersen went out for a duck as Kithuruwan Vithanage caught him on Herath's delivery

Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 421 (Jayawardene 165) and 229/8d (Sangakkara 72, Mathews 63*, Morkel 4-45)
South Africa - 282 (Amla 139*, Perera 5-69, Herath 4-71) and 38 for 1
Status - South Africa need 331 runs to win

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan - 3rd ODI 3rd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan - December 22, 12:00 GMT 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs 2nd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan at Cape Town Pakistan won by 81 runs

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