Sri Lanka crashed to 157 all out on the first day of the second Test versus South Africa, finding no respite after losing the series opener heavily.

South Africa’s quicks ripped through the Sri Lankan order in just 40.3 overs at the Wanderers after the visitors chose to bat first, with Anrich Nortje taking a career-best six for 56 and Wiaan Mulder three for 25.

South African batsmen then pressed home the advantage, reaching 148 for one at stumps to all but erase the first-innings deficit. Dean Elgar was batting on 92 with Rassie van der Dussen on 40.

Like in the first game, Sri Lanka made a promising start only to fall away quickly. Opener Kusal Perera hit a flamboyant 60 from 67 balls and with him playing fluently, Sri Lanka reached 71 for one.

But the picture changed completely just before lunch when Perera prodded outside off stump and edged to Aiden Markram at the slip cordon to be the first of three wickets for Mulder in a space of two overs.

Nortje added another and Sri Lanka lost four wickets for 13 runs in four overs in that telling period just before the break. Sri Lanka were suddenly 84 for five at lunch and then all out after just 16.3 overs of the second session, as Nortje wrapped up the tail.

He collected four of the last five wickets.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 157 (K. Perera 60; A. Nortje 6/56). South Africa 148/1 (D. Elgar 92 batting). At stumps, Day I.