SA A lost Stiaan van Zyl (11) and Rilee Rossouw (13) early to be in trouble at 58/2 in reply to Sri Lanka A's first innings total of 170 all out. But then Elgar and Du Plessis came together to share in a 292-run stand for the third wicket.

Du Plessis, who has hopes of breaking into the Proteas test squad, stroked his way to 144 - which included 12 fours and two sixes - before he edged the ball to first slip off the bowling of Kosala Kulasekara. Elgar, with a smashing 177, followed just four three balls and four runs later. Useful knocks by Farhaan Behardien (42 not out) and Ryan McLaren (29 not out) guided the hosts to a more than impressive 425/6 at stumps.

On Saturday, the visitors were bowled out for 170 in just 41 overs.

Rory Kleinveldt was the chief destroyer with 4/47 and Wayne Parnell was a bit expensive but collected 3/72 in his 14 overs. McLaren collected two wickets and Pumelela Matshikwe just one. The series is meant to ready fringe players should they be called up for Proteas duty on the tour to England.