COLOMBO, July 29: South Africa on Saturday promised a titanic battle to save the first cricket Test after being pounded by Sri Lanka's record-smashing batsmen on the third day.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene hit the fourth highest score of 374 and shared a world record stand of 624 with Kumar Sangakkara as the hosts piled up a mammoth 756-5 declared in their first innings.

The Proteas, who conceded a massive lead of 587 after being shot out for 169 on the opening day, ended the day at 43-0.

South Africa must bat out the remaining two days to save the game with seasoned opener Herschelle Gibbs unable to bat till the fall of the fifth wicket after being off the field with a stomach bug.

“It's not going to be easy to save the game, but it's not over yet,” said South African coach Mickey Arthur. “They still have to take 10 wickets and the boys are determined not to make it easy for them.

“The two Sri Lankans batted as if nothing bothered them, so maybe we can take a lesson from that and believe the wicket is still good for batting.

“We did not lose a wicket before close and hopefully the boys can go on the same way. The trick is to play it session by session.”

Jayawardene and Sangakkara, who came together on Thursday evening with their team on a precarious 14-2, destroyed the South African attack in the best ever partnership in the history of Test cricket.

Jayawardene, 29, said the individual record never crossed his mind since he and Sangakkara were more concerned about how the match would turn out.

“It was more important for us to put runs on the board as best we could,” the Sri Lankan captain said.

“We still have a Test to win and we know there is a lot of hard work ahead of us in this game over the next two days.

“South Africa are great fighters. We have seen it in the past and know that they will do what they can to save this game.”—AFP