Australia are on the margin of a 3-0 series sweep after restrict Sri Lanka to 225 for 7 with a small lead of 87 runs at end of play on a dramatic 3rd day of the third test.
Australia conquered the morning courtesy of a dazzling unbeaten century from Matthew Wade before declaring at 432 for 9 with a 1st innings lead of 138 runs just before lunch. The visitors fight back in the 2nd session on the back of a hundred runs partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne (85) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (60) to quickly raise the prospect of a first ever Sri Lanka test win in Australia.
Karunaratne knock down short of his first test hundred soon after tea with his country still six runs in arrears, however, and Sri Lanka then crushed to lose six wickets for just 93 runs. At stumps, Dinesh Chandimal (22) and Rangana Herath (9) were at the crease in front of a big task to make bigger the lead and make Australia's chase anything more than a formality.
Lahiru Thirimanne (7), Thilan Samaraweera (0), Angelo Mathews (16), Jayawardene and Dhammika Prasad (15) then followed to leave the Sri Lanka floundering. Samaraweera's wicket expected the biggest cheer of the day as Mike Hussey, playing in his final test before retirement, took the catch in the deep off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.
Mathew Wade had gain plenty of cheers in the 1st session with a knock of 102 runs as bright as the pink shirts and hats being worn by much of the crowd in support of former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath's breast cancer charity. Wade resumed Day on 47 with Australia just 48 runs ahead of Sri Lanka's 1st innings tally of 294 and he reached his third test half century in the second over.
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