South Africa face a tricky final-day batting examination in Colombo to unseat Australia as the No.1-ranked Test nation.

Needing just a draw with Sri Lanka in the second Test to usurp Michael Clarke’s men at the top of the pecking order, the Proteas will start day five on Monday at 1-38 in pursuit of a victory target of 369.

South Africa lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the opener in Galle by 153 runs.

Kumar Sangakkara and skipper Angelo Mathews struck brisk half-centuries on Sunday to help Sri Lanka set up the target.

Sangakkara (72) hit his tenth 50-plus score of the year and Mathews chipped in with an unbeaten 63 as the hosts declared their second innings on 8-229 shortly before close of play.

At stumps on a rain-interrupted day four, South Africa need 331 more runs off a minimum 98 overs to pull off a series-clinching win.

Quinton de Kock (21) and Dean Elgar (13) were the not out batsmen at the crease.

The hosts, who posted 421 in their first dig, had bowled out South Africa for 282 in their first innings to gain a 139-run lead.

South Africa’s chase did not start the way they had hoped for as they lost their first wicket with just six runs on the board.

Opener Alviro Petersen (zero) failed for the second time in the game when he was caught off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who opened the bowling.

Sangakkara unleashed his trademark silken pulls and drives to race to the 50-run mark with a boundary off leg-spinner Imran Tahir (2-76).

Just when he was looking good for a bigger score, he edged to wicketkeeper De Kock off Morne Morkel (4-45), bringing an end to his enterprising knock that included eight hits to the fence.

Kithruwan Vithanage (seven) was superbly caught by Faf du Plessis who ran backwards without taking his eyes off the ball and then dived forward to pluck it inches off the ground.

Test debutant Niroshan Dickwella top-edged to AB de Villiers off Dale Steyn (2-59), failing to repeat his first innings performance which saw him score 72.

Tahir bowled Dilruwan Perera and Morkel sent back Rangana Herath, prompting skipper Mathews to declare the innings.

Dickwella was fined 10 per cent of his match fee for claiming an unfair catch on day three.