Teenage seamer Lahiru Kumara took two quick wickets to help Sri Lanka make early inroads on a bowler-friendly surface in the opening session as South Africa went to lunch on 3-69 on the first day of the second Test at Newlands on Monday.
The 19-year-old Kumara, playing only his third Test, dismissed both Hashim Amla and JP Duminy in the same over just before the break to give the visitors the early edge.
Amla, continuing his indifferent form, was clean bowled for 29 and then five balls later Duminy got strangled down the leg side and got a glove to a quick delivery to be taken behind after an acrobatic leap by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis.
Duminy went without scoring, leaving Dean Elgar (36) and captain Faf du Plessis (one) not out at lunch.
Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl on a green strip, making an immediate breakthrough before South Africa had scored their first run.
Stephen Cook, who had scored a century and was named man of the match in the first test in Port Elizabeth, edged the fourth ball of the day, pushing at a rising delivery and getting a feint edge to Suranga Lakmal, caught behind by Mendis.
The 21-year-old had taken over the gloves from Dinesh Chandimal, who is playing but was feeling unwell at the start of play.
Inconsistent bowling allowed Elgar and Amla to weather the next 21 overs and establish a 66-run partnership before Kumara was eventually brought into the attack, making an immediate impact.
The teenager, who conceded 11 runs in four overs for his two wickets, replaced Dushmantha Chameera in the line-up for the second Test in one of two changes for Sri Lanka, who lost by 206 runs in Port Elizabeth in the first of three-match series.
