South Africa v Sri Lanka: Proteas five wickets away from first Test win

South Africa need five wickets to wrap up victory on day five of the first Test against Sri Lanka after the tourists closed on 240-5.

That leaves Sri Lanka some 248 runs short of their target of 488, after the hosts declared on 406-6 in the morning session to give themselves more than five sessions in which to bowl out the visitors.

Resuming on 351-5 with a lead already in excess of 400, South Africa were in no mood to hang around and in captain Faf du Plessis (67no) and Quinton de Kock, they had the ideal pair at the crease to ensure the game moved apace.

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Both batsmen passed fifty early on and they scored at a little over five an over for the 10.5 overs before Rangana Herath trapped De Kock (69) lbw and the declaration was made.

Requiring a world-record total for victory, Sri Lanka made a cautious start with openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva seeing them through to lunch unscathed.

The duo continued in a similar vein after the interval and had amassed a combined 87 before a calamitous run out broke the stand; Karunaratne (43) gone after hesitating as Silva called him through for a single into the covers.

Two overs later, South Africa had another as Kusal Perera was caught behind trying to cut Kevash Maharaj (2-84) and then, in the first over after tea, Kagiso Rabada (2-72) struck to remove Silva (48) lbw.

After that clutch of quick wickets, Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis went on the counter-attack. The pair added 75 for the fourth wicket before Rabada returned to dismiss Mendis (58) with a bouncer from around the wicket.

A loose shot from Dinesh Chandimal gave Maharaj his second wicket but Mathews (58no) battled through to his half-century and Dhananjaya de Silva (9no) stuck with him to ensure South Africa's push for victory goes into a fifth day.

Watch day five of the first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka in Port Elizabeth, live on Sky Sports 2 from 7.55am on Friday.