I can't think of a single chance he gave during the course of the innings Coach John Dyson on Jayawardene More day two quotes

Bat dominated ball on day two of the first Test between Sri Lanka and the touring South Africans in Galle.

Mahela Jayawardene fell just five runs short of his highest Test score in hitting 237 in a total of 486 all out.

But in reply, makeshift opening pair Martin van Jaarsveld and Boeta Dippenaar steered South Africa to a promising position of 82-0.

Sri Lanka had begun the day 279-7, and profited from a national Test record 170-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Jayawardene easily eclipsed his previous highest score against South Africa, 167 at the same ground in 2000.

But Chaminda Vaas, who made 69 in more than three hours, proved a more than valuable ally for the right-handed number four.

Vaas, who started the day as a new batsman after the dismissal of Upul Chandana on the last ball of day one, struck 10 boundaries in all.

Finally, midway through the afternoon, he was caught drilling a catch to mid-off as slow bowler Nicky Boje struck.

To his credit, Martin van Jaarsveld saw off the new ball well

Jayawardene stepped on the gas after his partner's departure, adding three sixes to his 25 fours before he was trapped lbw by Nantie Hayward attempting a pull shot to a ball that kept slightly lower than the batsman expected.

The innings was over next ball when last man Muttiah Muralitharan was bowled by Hayward, who returned 3-81. Shaun Pollock could not add to wicket haul from the first day, and finished with 4-48.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith was unable to take to the field because of a virus, with Mark Boucher taking over.

An International Cricket Council playing condition meant Smith could not then open the innings when the tourists came out to bat.

Van Jaarsveld and Dippenaar were more than equal to the task, however, as Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu could not gain a breakthrough in a 34-over final session, with 11 of those sent down by Muralitharan.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Samaraweera, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Upul Chandana.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Boeta Dippenaar, Martin van Jaarsveld, Jacques Rudolph, Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Makhaya Ntini, Nantie Hayward, Nicky Boje.