Rudolph's gritty display has kept South Africa in the hunt

Sri Lanka have set South Africa 325 to win the first Test after declaring on 214-9 in Galle.

They hit 92 runs after tea and declared with three overs to go which South Africa safely negotiated to end the day on 7-0.

Earlier in the day, South Africa's Jacques Rudolph recorded his fourth Test century in 15 matches.

South Africa were all out for 376 with Rudolph the last man out for 102 on a deteriorating pitch.

Rudolph steered the visitors to within 110 of Sri Lanka with able assistance from Nicky Boje.

The pair put on 53 before wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana took a low one-handed catch off the bowling of Chaminda Vaas to dismiss Boje for 31.

Makhaya Ntini was caught at deep mid-wicket by Upul Chandana off Muttiah Muralitharan before the spinner struck again to dismiss Rudolph, caught behind, taking his Test record haul of wickets to 531 in the process.

Muralitharan ended the innings with 4-130.

Spinner Boje did the damage in the second innings taking 5-88.

Sanath Jayasuriya top-scored for the hosts with 74 before being dismissed for 74 when he nicked one to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher off Shaun Pollock.

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.