The hosts increased their advantage by scoring 191 for three by the close, an overall lead of 221.

"At the age of 35 you never know when you are finished with international cricket. To take five wickets today . . . all my emotions came out," said Paterson of his exuberant celebration when he took his fifth wicket.

Paterson took three wickets in an over as Sri Lanka could add only 86 runs for the loss of seven wickets to their overnight total of 242 for three.

Paterson, 35, played in 12 white-ball internationals followed by two Tests against England in 2019-20. That seemed to have been the extent of his international career.

Despite enjoying success in English county cricket since joining Nottinghamshire in 2021, he failed to attract a bid to play for any of the six franchises in the 2024 SA20 league but that opened the door for an international recall.

With franchise-contracted players ineligible for a series in New Zealand in February, Paterson joined a team of franchise rejects and played two Tests.

Paterson performed well as the team was being outplayed.

Even so, he admitted, "I thought I was playing my last Test in Hamilton in New Zealand."

Injuries to Gerald Coetzee and Wiaan Mulder during South Africa's win in the first Test in Durban provided an opening for Paterson in Gqeberha, where his accuracy and control proved the ideal foil to the pace of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

Marco Jansen made the first breakthroughs on Saturday, dismissing Angelo Mathews with the old ball and Kamindu Mendis in the first over with the second new ball.

Paterson had Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva caught at second slip, then bowled Kusal Mendis, who did not offer a shot to a ball which cut back sharply.

Lahiru Kumara was Paterson's third victim in the over, spectacularly caught by a diving Jansen at gully.

"It's been a long journey and I think it's been a successful one," said Paterson. "Completing it with a Test fifer sweetens it even more."

Opening batsman Aiden Markram made an aggressive 55 in South Africa's second innings but the scoring rate slowed against the left-arm spin of Prabath Jayasuriya, while the Sri Lankan seam bowlers found reverse swing and made stroke play difficult.

The match was still in the balance at 109 for three but Tristan Stubbs and Temba Bavuma added an unbeaten 82 before the close.