But the Sri Lankan off-spinner still moved to third place on the all-time Test wicket-takers' list after claiming his 435 victim, one more than Indian legend Kapil Dev.

Muralitharan had to wait until his 50th over before taking his first wicket of the match, trapping Andrew Hall leg before wicket, after conceding 108 runs.

Two overs later he had Steve Elworthy caught at silly mid-off before finishing the day with two for 116 from 53 overs.

"I tried hard. I thought I bowled really well," said Muralitharan, who added that he had not been affected by the groin injury which will cause him to miss the one-day series.

Muralitharan is now behind only Courtney Walsh of the West Indies (519) and Australia's Shane Warne (481).

But the Sri Lankan is confident of adding to his tally.

"I'm only 30. I can play for another four or five years," he said.

It was the 132-run stand for the seventh wicket between Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock that really damaged Sri Lanka's prospects on Sunday.

South Africa eventually ended the day with a 98-run lead and with one first-innings wicket in hand.

And Boucher is confident his side can give Sri Lanka more problems in the final two days of the Test.

"The wicket is starting to play up a bit. A couple of balls from Chaminda Vaas misbehaved today," he said.

"With our bowlers having a little more pace, it could make it more difficult for their batsmen."