CAPE TOWN: Jacques Kallis hit his second Test double century as South Africa continued to pile on the runs on the second day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands on Wednesday.

Kallis made a career-best 224 as South Africa reached 453 for four at lunch. AB de Villiers was unbeaten on 84.

Kallis was out in the last over before lunch when he was caught at mid-on off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath after batting for 435 minutes.

He faced 325 balls and hit 31 fours and a six. His fourth wicket partnership with De Villiers was worth 192.

Until Herath's success, it was another trying morning for the Sri Lankans, who had further cause to regret their decision to send South Africa in to bat in a series-deciding contest.

Kallis and De Villiers added 106 runs in 28.3 overs before lunch.

Kallis, resuming on 159, hit boundaries off his first two balls of the day, from Dhammika Prasad. But he had an escape on 171 when Prasad was able to make a ball deviate enough off the pitch for Kallis to edge it low to second slip where a diving Mahela Jayawardene got his fingers to the ball but was unable to hold on.

There was more good fortune for Kallis on 183 when he edged Angelo Mathews between wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal and Jayawardene, who was at a wide solitary slip.

Kallis, playing in his 150th Test, reached his double century off 280 balls with 29 fours and a six. His previous double century came against India at Centurion last season when he made 201 not out.

Indicative of the dominance of the batsmen, the Sri Lankan bowlers were able to deliver only two maiden overs, both by the left-armed Chanaka Welegedera early in the day.