• South Africa 297-6 at close on day one
• Elgar makes career-best 129
• De Kock 68 not out for South Africa
• Teenager Kumara claims three wickets for Sri Lanka

In the second session, captain Faf du Plessis was the only wicket to fall, making 38 in a 76-run partnership with Elgar that launched South Africa's fightback. He was caught at first slip by Angelo Mathews off the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath.

After tea, Temba Bavuma, who twice went out cheaply in the first test, was caught for 10 trying to flick a delivery over the field but taken at square leg by Upul Tharanga off Kumara.

Elgar followed with a thick edge off the second new ball but not before seeing his team into a relatively strong position.