Gilchrist hauls Australia back into contention

<preform>Australia 120 & 221-2 Sri Lanka 211</preform>

Adam Gilchrist's unbeaten century rescued Australia from a precarious position to turn the second Test on its head here yesterday.

Adam Gilchrist's unbeaten century rescued Australia from a precarious position to turn the second Test on its head here yesterday.

The left-handed wicketkeeper cracked 140 from 175 balls and together with Damien Martyn, who finished on 64 not out, hauled Australia from 26 for 2 to a lead of 130 over Sri Lanka at the end of the second day.

Gilchrist hit 19 fours and three sixes and took just over three hours to complete his 10th Test century. In contrast, Martyn was happy to play second fiddle, scoring his 64 off 141 balls. The wicketkeeper's timing and confidence was illustrated perfectly when he hauled leg spinner Muttiah Muralitharan over long on for six to bring up Australia's 200.

"[It is] really pleasing to make an impact in this series and to make some Test runs as I have been a bit dry this summer," Gilchrist said. "It felt much clearer in my head today and I looked to play as straight as possible."

Despite restricting Sri Lanka to 92 for 7 at the end of the first day, Australia had to withstand a spirited fightback by the hosts' tail. Muralitharan, who took his 500th Test wicket on Tuesday, combined with Chaminda Vaas to give their side a first innings lead of 91 after a 10th wicket stand of 79, setting a new Sri Lankan record.

Vaas made an unbeaten 68 while Muralitharan was caught by Andrew Symonds off the bowling of Shane Warne for 43. The leg spinner ended with 5 for 65, his 26th five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Sri Lanka then looked to press home their advantage and it appeared to be going to plan when Vaas caught and bowled Matthew Hayden for five and fellow opener Justin Langer followed him back to the pavilion having made just nine.

Australia, despite a woeful first innings total of 120, are now favourites to snatch another unlikely victory, just as they did in the first Test in Galle when they trailed by 161 after their first innings.

Meanwhile, they expect captain Ricky Ponting to make a quick recovery after straining back muscles yesterday. Ponting caught his spikes on a sponsor's mat while fielding and left the field during the morning session after complaining of breathlessness and severe pain.

Second day of five; Australia won toss

AUSTRALIA - First Innings 120 (M L Hayden 54; M Muralitharan 4-48, D N T Zoysa 4-54).

SRI LANKA - First Innings Overnight: 92 for 7
W P U Vaas not out 68
D N T Zoysa c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 4
K S Lokuarachchi c Kasprowicz b Warne 15
M Muralitharan c Symonds b Warne 43
Extras (b8 lb9 nb3) 20
Total (63.1 overs) 211

Fall (cont): 8-111, 9-132.

Bowling: Gillespie 12-4-25-1; Kasprowicz 24-5-83-4; Warne 20.1-3-65-5; Symonds 2-1-1-0; MacGill 5-1-20-0.

AUSTRALIA - Second Innings
J L Langer c Sangakkara b Zoysa 9
M L Hayden c & b Vaas 5
A C Gilchrist not out 140
D R Martyn not out 64
Extras (lb2 nb1) 3
Total (for 2, 59 overs) 221

Fall: 1-11, 2-26

To Bat: R T Ponting, D S Lehmann, A Symonds, S K Warne, J N Gillespie, M S Kasprowicz, S C G MacGill.

Bowling: Vaas 14-3-55-1; Muralitharan 22-2-81-0; Zoysa 9-2-35-1; Lokuarachchi 8-1-26-0; Jayasuriya 5-0-16-0; Dilshan 1-0-6-0.

Umpires: S A Bucknor (WI) and D L Orchard (SA).