Sri Lanka put a 125-run first innings deficit behind them on the fourth day of the second Test against South Africa, reaching 180-3 in their second attempt.

But bad light brought an end to proceedings an hour early at Centurion Park, all but ending the tourists' hopes of a win to square the series.

South Africa was dismissed for 448 in its first innings in reply to Sri Lanka's 323.

And they took a firmer grip immediately after lunch, as Jacques Kallis removed stand-in captain Marvan Atapatu for 22 in just his first over.

But, for the rest of the day, the hosts were on the defensive as Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene plundered the bowling in a third wicket stand of 119.

Sangakkara was dismissed shortly before the close, caught behind chasing a Makhaya Ntini delivery down the leg side, but not before he had smashed 89 from 132 deliveries, with 15 fours.

Jayawardene was more the technically correct batsman, but he survived a real going over by the South African bowlers to be well set on 40 not out.

There was a moment of conflict when Jayawardene reacted angrily to an apparently jocular remark from Shaun Pollock, after hooking the South Africa captain for a boundary.

But match referee Gundappa Viswanath said the matter had been sorted out between the umpire and the players and there would be no formal report.

The home side 421 for nine overnight, added the extra 27 runs in the first half-hour of the day.

But Pollock was left stranded on an undefeated 99 as Ntini needlessly holed out to mid on for eight off Chaminda Vaas.

Pollock's 99 came off 170 balls, and included nine fours, and two sixes.

Ntini engineered an early breakthrough, as umpire Darryl Harper of Australia adjudged opener Jehan Mubarak caught behind for 15, even though replays showed there was no edge.

South Africa: Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock (captain), Andrew Hall, Steve Elworthy, Makhaya Ntini.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Jehan Mubarak, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Hasantha Fernando, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, Chamila Gamage, Muttiah Muralitharan.