Sri Lanka lose Sangakkara and Mahela

Sri Lanka v Australia, 3rd Test, Colombo, 3rd day

Lunch Sri Lanka 250 for 4 (Sangakkara 79, M Jayawardene 51, Dilshan 29*, Mathews 15*) trail Australia 316 by 66 runs
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Australia picked up the key wickets of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene on the third morning in Colombo, but Sri Lanka remained on target to take a first-innings lead. At lunch, Sri Lanka had reached 250 for 4, and they were 66 runs behind, with the captain Tillakaratne Dilshan enjoying his move down the order, on 29, and Angelo Mathews on 15.

Dilshan had struck six boundaries, happy to use the pace of the new ball to his advantage with some well-timed drives, although the Australians knew he was a chance to be caught in the cordon. Michael Clarke relied exclusively on his fast men during the session, with a hint of reverse-swing during the first hour and then the new ball taken in the second hour.

Sri Lanka were looking good early as the Sangakkara-Jayawardene partnership continued to thrive. However, just after Jayawardene brought up his half-century with an upper-cut for four off Watson, he perished for 51 when he drove at Watson and edged behind when the ball moved just a fraction away from him.

It was a wicket against the run of play, Australia having had few encouraging moments in the 101-run partnership. The news was even better for the visitors when Peter Siddle struck in the first over with the new ball, when he found some extra bounce and nipped the ball just far enough off the seam away from the left-hander Sangakkara to entice an edge.

Sangakkara had made 79 and looked good for a century in his hundredth Test, but his departure left Sri Lanka four down and still 106 runs adrift of Australia. However, by lunch, the Sri Lankans had added 84 to their overnight score, and with Dilshan and Mathews at the crease, they were looking at a good chance to overtake Australia during the second session.