South Africa 257-5, leads Sri Lanka by 77

CENTURION, South Africa (AP) — AB de Villiers and Ashwell Prince took South Africa to 257-5 and a lead of 77 over Sri Lanka at tea on the second day of the first test at SuperSport Park on Friday.

De Villiers was 56 not out, his third straight test half-century, and Prince 38 not out in an unbroken 84-run partnership to lift the Proteas from 173-5 in their first innings.

Jacques Kallis (31) fell to Chanaka Welegedara soon after lunch to give the Sri Lankans hope of fighting their way back into the match. Led by Thisara Perera (2-80), Sri Lanka had already removed three South African batsmen before lunch.

De Villiers hit six fours and Prince supported with four boundaries as South Africa regained control in the series opener after bowling Sri Lanka out for 180 on day one.

Perera dismissed Hashim Amla and Jacques Rudolph — after Dale Steyn was run out — as South Africa slipped to 136-4 in the morning after being 90-1 overnight.

Kallis hit five fours in a commanding start to his first test innings at Centurion since he made a double century here against India last season.

But he was shaken up after being hit on the side of the helmet by Dilhara Fernando (1-66). Having received treatment on the pitch, Kallis edged behind off Fernando in the next over — the last before lunch — but wicketkeeper Kaushal Silva put the catch down.

Kallis did fall to a catch behind off Welegedara (1-67), however, having added just three runs to his score after the break.

De Villiers took charge as the Proteas put on 89 for the loss of one wicket in the second session to move into a strong position in the first of three tests. The right-hander went past 50 for the third time in three innings after scoring 64 and 73 in South Africa's last test against Australia in Johannesburg last month.

Prince supported, but only after a streaky start, where he sent edges past the slips and one thick top-edge just over the fielders behind the bat.

Sri Lanka has not won in its last 14 matches and has never won a test in South Africa.