Seamer Dane Paterson took five wickets as South Africa fought back to bowl out Sri Lanka for 328 in their first innings on day three of the second Test at St George’s Park on Saturday.

The Sri Lankan Lions are 30 runs short of South Africa’s first innings total of 358 in an even contest in Gqeberha.

South Africa will rue missed catches in the field in a sloppy opening hour, but utilised the new ball well, led by 35-year-old Paterson in his sixth test.

Sri Lanka resumed on 242 for three in their first innings and made South Africa toil in the field for 10 overs before the home side removed Angelo Mathews for 44 just before the new ball was available.

Mathews was caught by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne off the bowling of Marco Jansen (2-100), before the lanky seamer had Kamindu Mendis (48) snaffled at second slip by Aiden Markram.

Paterson was brought into the attack and raced through the Sri Lankan lower middle order as he removed visiting captain Dhananjaya de Silva (14), Kusal Mendis (16) and Lahiru Kumara (0) in the space of five deliveries.

Kumara was out to a sensational catch diving to his left at gully by Jansen, helping Paterson to career-best figures of 5-71.

The test is a must-win for both countries in their bid to reach next year’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s.

South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 233 runs in Durban last week to take the first of the two-match series.

--With Agencies Inputs