Muralitharan still hopeful of Sri Lanka win at Centurion

Star off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes Sri Lanka can still win the second Test and level the series despite having conceded a 98 run lead by the close on day three at SuperSport Park.

South Africa finished the day in charge on 421 for nine after a record 132 partnership for the seventh wicket between captain Shaun Pollock and Mark Boucher.

With only two days to go Sri Lanka, one nil down in the series after losing at Wanderers, are running out of time if they are able to force a win, but Muralitharan still believes the visitors have a chance.

"We haven't given up hope of winning this game," he said afterwards. "If we can bowl them out quickly tomorrow and then score around 300 in the day then we can put pressure on them in the final day.

"It will not be easy for them batting last. I will get more spin and the ball will keep a little low, even for the faster bowlers. It will have to be a team effort though, one man won't be able to do it.

"We have to fight really hard tomorrow because we haven't won in South Africa and need to level the series. We have to be positive."

Muralitharan moved past Kapil Dev to become the third highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket shortly before the close, but Muralitharan, who recently claimed to want 1000 Test wickets before he retires, was more concerned that Sri Lanka win the game.

"It was nice to have passed Kapil's record but the landmarks don't mean that much to me. The important thing is bowling well for the team and winning matches."

The off-spinner, playing in only his 78th Test, now has 435 Test victims. Only Aussie leg-spinner Shane Warne (481) and West Indian quick Courtney Walsh (519) have more.

He was content with his performance despite being forced to work unusually hard for his wickets, waiting 49.2 overs before claiming his first victim and finishing with two for 116 from 53 overs.

"I thought I bowled really well and kept up the pressure on what was pretty slow wicket," he said. "There were a few chances here and there, but that is cricket. On another day I might have ended up with five wickets."

"The other bowlers also did a pretty good job, bowling to a plan. We could have restricted them to a lower score if we had had a little bit more luck."