Silva ton dims Aussie hopes of victory

COLOMBO: A gritty century from Kaushal Silva gave Sri Lanka a commanding 288-run second innings lead Tuesday, dimming Australia’s hopes of a consolation win in the

COLOMBO: A gritty century from Kaushal Silva gave Sri Lanka a commanding 288-run second innings lead Tuesday, dimming Australia’s hopes of a consolation win in the third and final Test in Colombo.

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Sri Lanka were 312/8 at stumps on the fourth day. First innings centurion Dhananjaya de Silva was unbeaten on 44 with Suranga Lakmal yet to get off the mark at close of play.

But the day belonged to Silva, who batted with six stitches on the webbing of his little finger after injuring himself while fielding on Monday to make a composed 115.

Silva, 30, put together a 90-run partnership with first innings centurion Dinesh Chandimal, before he reached his century with a boundary off Adam Voges.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who claimed four wickets, trapped Chandimal lbw for 43 in the final session to break the stand. Silva fell to the left-arm spin of Jon Holland in the 87th over.

Australia made further inroads, but de Silva ensured that the hosts maintained their domination.

BRIEF SCORES

Sri Lanka 355 and 312 (K Silva 115, D Chandimal 43, D de Silva 44*; M Starc 2/58, N Lyon 4/123, J Holland 2/72) v Australia 379.