Kaushal Silva's timely return to form with a century put Sri lanka in command of the third test against Australia as the hosts reached 312-8 at stumps on the fourth day Tuesday. Batting at No. 3, Silva's third test hundred came after a string of failures that yielded him just 18 runs in his last five test innings when opening the batting.
Having conceded a first innings lead of 24 runs, Sri lanka is now leading by 288 runs, already a formidable chase for the visitors on a wearing, final-day pitch. Australia, which lost the first two tests, needs a morale-boosting win.
Silva came into bat at No. 3 because of a finger injury that had required six stitches and spent six hours at the crease, facing 269 deliveries and hitting 10 boundaries in a patient, watchful knock.
He shared 58 runs for the fifth wicket with captain Angelo Mathews after Sri lanka lost three wickets in the morning to slump to 98-4. He then shared a 90-run partnership with Dinesh Chandimal for the sixth wicket in an effort to bat Australia out of the match.
Mathews made 26 before he top edged a sweep for a catch to Australia captain Steve Smith off spinner Nathan lyon. Dinesh Chandimal — who scored a brilliant 132 in the first innings — made a careful 43 before being trapped lbw by lyon.
Dhananjaya de Silva, whose 129 in the first innings was his first test hundred, was unbeaten on 44 at the close batting with Suranga lakmal, who was yet to score.
The visitors claimed three top-order wickets in Tuesday's morning session, leaving Sri lanka in a precarious position at 109-4 at lunch.Dimuth Karunaratne (22) was the first man out, smartly stumped by Peter Nevill off lyon.