Australia opener Phillip Hughes scored his first Test hundred in two and half years on Monday as Sri Lanka pressed for a series levelling victory in the third and final Test.
The Australians, trailing by 157 runs on the first innings, finished the fourth day at 209 for three wickets for an overall lead of 52. Hughes was undefeated on 122 and captain Michael Clarke had scored eight.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath grabbed all three Australian wickets.
Herath first trapped Shane Watson lbw for 21, a decision the batsman challenged and lost.
Shaun Marsh fell to a bat-pad catch at short leg for 18 although television replays showed the ball brushing past his pad to fielder Lahiru Thirimanne. Marsh did not challenge the decision. Ricky Ponting became Herath’s third victim when he edged a catch to Mahela Jayawardene at slip for 28.
Earlier Angelo Mathews scored his maiden test hundred to give Sri Lanka a handy first-innings lead of 157.
Brief scores: Aus 316 & 209-3
{{/usCountry}}Brief scores: Aus 316 & 209-3
{{/usCountry}}(Hughes 122 no; Herath 3-54) v SL 473 ( Mathews 105 no; Siddle 4-91)