Stephen Cook hit an unbeaten century as South Africa moved into a powerful position on the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at St George's Park on Wednesday. South Africa were 221 for two at tea, an overall lead of 302 on a ground where no team has successfully chased more than 271 in the fourth innings. Cook (108 not out) and Dean Elgar (52) shared their second century opening partnership of the match as South Africa built on their first innings lead of 81.

The pair put on 116 for the first wicket, 12 more than their partnership in the first innings. Hashim Amla joined Cook after Elgar was dismissed and played some sparkling strokes as he made 48 in a second wicket stand of 105 off 118 balls before he was out off the last delivery before tea. After two interruptions for rain, the playing hours were changed and South Africa scored 182 runs off 40 overs in an extended post-lunch period during which the Sri Lankan bowling and fielding was unimpressive. Cook, who made his third century in only seven Tests, survived a chance to gully off Suranga Lakmal when he was on 62, but played with more freedom than in previous appearances.

SCOREBOARD

-- South Africa, first innings, 286

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Sri Lanka, first innings (overnight 181-7)

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D. Karunaratne b Abbott                  5

K. Silva lbw b Philander                16

K. Perera c De Kock b Philander          7

K. Mendis c De Kock b Abbott             0

A. Mathews c Elgar b Rabada             39

D. Chandimal lbw b Philander            28

D. de Silva c De Kock b Philander       43

R. Herath lbw b Maharaj                 24

D. Chameera c Amla b Abbott             19

S. Lakmal c Abbott b Philander           4

N. Pradeep not out                       8

Extras: (lb4, nb3, w5)                  12

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Total: (64.5 overs)                    205

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Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Karunaratne), 2-19 (Perera), 3-22 (Mendis), 4-61 (Silva), 5-94 (Mathews), 6-121 (Chandimal), 7-157 (Herath), 8-181 (De Silva), 9-185 (Lakmal)

Bowling: Philander 20-7-45-5 (2nb), Abbott 21.5-4-63-3, Rabada 13-3-63-1 (1nb, 1w), Maharaj 10-3-30-1

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South Africa, second innings

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S. Cook c Chandimal b Chameera         117

D. Elgar c Mathews b Lakmal             52

H. Amla lbw b Pradeep                   48

J. Duminy c Mathews b De Silva          25

F. du Plessis not out                   41

T. Bavuma c Mendis b De Silva            8

Q. de Kock not out                      42

Extras: (b5, lb1, nb9, w3)              18

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Total: (5 wkts, 80 overs)              351

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Fall of wickets: 1-116 (Elgar), 2-221 (Amla), 3-244 (Cook), 4-267 (Duminy), 5-277 (Bavuma)

Bowling: Lakmal 15-2-57-1, Pradeep 14-0-65-1 (4nb, 1w), Mathews 4-0-10-0, Chameera 11-0-63-1 (1nb, 2w), Herath 23-1-76-0, De Silva 13-0-74-2

Match situation: South Africa lead by 432 runs with five wickets remaining in the second innings

Toss: South Africa

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK), Bruce Oxenford (AUS)

TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS)

Match referee: David Boon (AUS).

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2016