Colombo: Mahela Jayawardene hit an unbeaten 77 to get Sri Lanka within 90 runs of victory in the second cricket Test and a series sweep against South Africa.
Set 352 to win, the hosts ended the fourth day at 262 for five on Monday, leaving three sessions and five wickets to achieve the 90 runs required.
The Sri Lanka captain shared an unbroken 61-run stand for the sixth wicket with Prasanna Jayawardene, the wicketkeeper-batsman contributing 27 runs.
South Africa missed a chance to dismiss Mahela Jayawardene on two when he edged an Andrew Hall delivery to gully. But Herschelle Gibbs, one of the safest fielders in the team, failed to hold the chance.
It was a major reprieve for Sri Lanka.
Jayawardene scored 374 in the first Test last week and shared a world record 624-run partnership with Kumar Sangakkara that laid the foundation for the innings victory.
As long as he remains at the crease, Sri Lanka has a chance of winning.
Sri Lanka's highest run chase in Test cricket so far has been 326 against Zimbabwe at the Sinhalese Sports Club in 1997.
South Africa resumed on Monday at 257 for seven and added 54 before Mark Boucher's rearguard innings finished at 65.
South African coach Mickey Arthur indicated that the game may have slipped away from his side a bit.
"We thought 350 was a good target to give them, but maybe we are 30-40 runs short at the end," he said.
"But the new ball is due after eight overs and if we can take a wicket early that'll open up things for us and we'll be in the game."
Despite losing opening partner Upul Tharanga for a duck, veteran Sanath Jayasuriya started the chase aggressively for Sri Lanka with 73 from 74 balls.
The 37-year-old left-hander, who recently reversed his decision to retire from Test cricket, took the attack onto the South African bowlers reaching his 30th Test half-century in style by hoisting veteran paceman Shaun Pollock for a six that landed in the adjoining Air Force Camp.
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He was particularly aggressive against Pollock and hit the bowlers first three balls of his third over for 4,4,6 adding a quick 82 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara.
Pollock hit back by breaking the partnership with the total at 94, but Sri Lanka suffered the biggest blow when Jayasuriya was dismissed.
Left-arm spinner Nicky Boje turned one from the rough and the ball brushed the batsman's glove, giving Hashim Amla a comfortable catch at short leg.
That put South Africa back in the hunt after an uncompromising onslaught by the former Sri Lankan captain.
The tourists got a few steps closer to squaring the series when Boje struck twice in the evening session with the wickets of Tillekeratne Dilshan (18) and Chamara Kapugedara (13).
But South Africa's attack was curtailed when fast bowler Makhaya Ntini pulled a hamstring and was restricted to just two overs after lunch. He is expected to be fit to resume bowling on the final day.
"We kept him on the field to have an option with the second new ball tomorrow. He will be treated overnight and hopefully will be able to take us for a win here," Arthur said.
Earlier, off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan completed his 56th five-wicket haul when he picked up the last three South African wickets.
He finished with seven for 97 in 47 overs and ended with 12 wickets, the 18th time he has taken 10 wickets or more in a Test match.
He has 22 wickets for the series.
"I am happy with another five-wicket haul and I want set high standards. I will quit when I don't set those high standards," he said. "I feel that both teams have a chance. Still it's 50-50. But Mahela is batting well and that's where we have an edge over the opposition."
Muralitharan reiterated he will decide his future after the World Cup in the Caribbean next year.
"I feel I am bowling well, but family commitments are important too," he said.
"I will talk with the cricket board and decide what series I want to play and which one I should skip," he added, indicating that he wants to step back his heavy existing programme.
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