Atapattu at it again

The final session was dominated by Atapattu who completed his century by pulling a short delivery from Nantie Hayward through mid-wicket for his 12th four. The ton came up in 327 minutes and he faced 264 balls.

It was Atapattu’s third hundred on this ground following a career-best 223 against Zimbabwe in 1997-98 and an unbeaten 207 against Pakistan last month.

With Arjuna Ranatunga who is making his final appearance at this venue, Atapattu has so far added 78 in an unfinished fifth wicket partnership. Ranatunga was undefeated on 34 scored off 52 balls with the aid of a six and five fours.

Sri Lanka lost three wickets in the afternoon, two of them to totally unnecessary run outs. Russel Arnold sacrificed his wicket at 28 after a misunderstanding with Atapattu over a run, and Kumar Sangakkara went for 24 backing up too far and failing to beat Neil McKenzie’s throw from cover point.

The third to fall was that of Mahela Jayawardene for 18 when he edged a catch to Darryl Cullinan at slip off Nicky Boje.

The only other wicket captured by a bowler was Sanath Jayasuriya’s for 28 when the Sri Lanka captain edged Hayward to Jacques Kallis at second slip.

Scoreboard

South Africa (1st innings): 253

Sri Lanka (1st innings; overnight 15-0): M Atapattu batting 107, S Jayasuriya c Kallis b Hayward 28, R Arnold run out 28, M Jayewardene c Cullinan b Boje 18, K Sangakkara run out 24, A Ranatunga batting 34; Extras: (b5, lb10, nb6) 21. Total: (4 wkts at close, 86.2 overs, 342 mins) 260

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-109, 3-142, 4-182.

Bowling: Pollock 17.2-3-64-0 (5nb), Hayward 16-5-41-1 (1nb), Kallis 11-4-18-0, Boje 14-2-46-1, Klusener 11-2-21-0, Adams 15-1-48-0, Cullinan 2-0-7-0.