Muralitharan returned 2-112 from 39 overs of doosra-less off-spin

Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu said Muttiah Muralitharan was off-colour despite the off-spinner reclaiming the outright Test record with two wickets.

Murali swept clear of Aussie Shane Warne as he took his career tally to 529 on day three of the first Test against South Africa in Galle.

But the visitors reached 347-7, with Jacques Rudolph's 85 not out whittling the deficit down to 139 runs.

"Everyone has off days and so it was with Murali," Atapattu said.

"Rather than saying that Murali did not deliver for us, I would prefer to say that we would have done better if he had taken more wickets.

"But it has more to do with people expecting him to come out and take five wickets in 20 overs each time which is not possible."

South Africa did a solid job of batting themselves into apparent safety, though they will still have to bat on a wearing pitch on the final day.

"They batted really well, probably coming out knowing what to expect," said Atapattu.