Mahela Jayawardene notched up his 12th Test hundred as Sri Lanka reached 279-7 at the close of play on the first day of the first Test against South Africa on Wednesday.

Jayawardene came to the crease with Sri Lanka wobbling at 22 for two then steadied the ship on a biscuit-dry pitch by scoring 116 not out with 15 fours and one six.

"It was a very difficult day for us," said Jayawardene. "We lost early wickets and every time we thought we could get on top of them we lost more wickets.

"We are disappointed that we lost two wickets towards the end. But I think we have a couple of decent guys inside who can hang around a bit and I think 350 would be a very good score on this wicket," he added.

"It was pretty hard as the ball was not coming onto the bat and I had to wait for the bad stuff. I could not force myself and try to dominate the bowlers."

Seamer Shaun Pollock starred for the tourists with the ball, whipping out the openers with the new ball before returning in the afternoon to dismiss Thilan Samaraweera and Romesh Kaluwitharana during a miserly late burst.

"It was important we got off to a good start and we got two early wickets and picked up more pretty regularly through the day," said Pollock. "Those last two wickets were definitely the cherry on the top and I'm sure knocked them a little bit in the dressing room."

Pollock, one of five quick bowlers rotated by South Africa skipper Graeme Smith, bowled two accurate and probing spells to finish with four for 24 from 15 overs.

Jayawardene helped repair the early damage in an 86-run stand for the third wicket with Kumar Sangakkara either side of the lunch interval.

Sangakkara, who has been relieved of wicketkeeping duties so he can concentrate on his batting, scored briskly with 11 boundaries in his 65-ball 58.

The left-hander departed after the introduction of Nick Boje's orthodox left-arm spin, caught behind as he tried to cut.

Samaraweera helped add 37 in 65 balls with Jayawardene before being trapped in front by a Pollock inswinger for 13 to leave Sri Lanka on 145 for four.

Jayawardene, though, found stronger allies in the middle order, adding 44 with Tillakaratne Dilshan (25) and then sharing a 85-run stand with Kaluwitharana (33).

South Africa took the second new ball in the final hour and Pollock lifted their spirits just before the close, bowling Kaluwitharana off-stump with a perfect leg cutter.

Makhaya Ntini bowled Upul Chandana for five with the last ball of the day.

Earlier, the left-handed Jayasuriya was the first to depart for 12, picking out Lance Klusener at square leg with a mistimed leg-side flick off Shaun Pollock.

Atapattu followed for nine in Pollock's next over, the ninth of the morning, after nicking a full-length delivery that swung away from the right-hander.

Sri Lanka, who won the toss and elected to bat, welcomed back spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who returns to Test cricket after pulling out of the tour of Australia.

Scorecard:

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat

Sri Lanka first innings:
M.Atapattu c Boucher b Pollock 9
S.Jayasuriya c Klusener b Pollock 12
K.Sangakkara c Boucher b Boje 58
M.Jayawardene not out 116
T.Samaraweera lbw Pollock 13
T.Dilshan b Hayward 25
R.Kaluwitharana b Pollock 33
U.Chanadana b Ntini 5
Extras: (b-4, lb-1, nb-3) 8
Total: (for seven wickets, 90 overs) 279

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-22, 3-108, 4-145, 5-189, 6-274, 7-279

Bowling: Pollock 15-4-24-4 (nb-2), M.Ntini 13-0-42-1, N.Hayward 10-0-57-1 (nb-1), J.Kallis 13-3-37-0, L.Klusener 11-0-44-0, N.Boje 24-3-64-1, J.Rudolph 4-2-6-0

Still to bat: C.Vaas, F.Maharoof, M.Muralitharan

South Africa:
G.Smith (Captain), J.Rudolph, J.Kallis, B.Dippenaar, M. van Jaarsveld, L.Klusener, S.Pollock, M.Boucher, M.Ntini, N.Hayward, N.Boje