Sri Lanka follows on

CENTURION, JAN. 21. An unbroken third wicket partnership of 54 between Kumar Sangakkara and Russel Arnold helped Sri Lanka halt the alarming slide that had seen it lose 12 wickets on the second day of the third Test against South Africa today.

The tourist reached the day's last drinks break on 97 for two from 22 overs in its second innings. It still needed 162 runs to make South Africa bat again after being bowled out for 119 in its first innings, 259 behind the home side's first innings total of 378. Sangakkara had 38 and Arnold 32.

Having taken tea on 26 for one, after the early loss of Marvan Atapattu without scoring, Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene carried their second-wicket stand to 34. Then Jayawardene, who had 23 including five fours, drove at a ball from Jacques Kallis and got a thick outside edge which flew low to gully where it was well taken by Boeta Dippenaar.

That left Sri Lanka on 43 for two, but once Arnold joined Sangakkara, who had been promoted to open the innings in a reshuffle of the batting order, the left-handed pair scored at a cracking pace, exploiting the gaps in the attacking South African field and reaching the boundary almost at will.

Their 50 partnership came off just 42 balls with Arnold contributing the lion's share of 31 when that milestone was reached.

Earlier, Makhaya Ntini took four for 39, with debutant Justin Kemp and veteran Allan Donald picking up two wickets each as the islanders were bowled out for 119 in just 36.5 overs in the first innings.

- Reuters

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