Dimuth Karunaratne injury: Sri Lanka batsman taken to hospital after being hit by bouncer

Karunaratne crumpled to the ground after ducking into a Pat Cummins bouncer which rocketed into the back of his helmet during the second Test with Australia

Karunaratne was taken to hospital (EPA)

A frightening injury to Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne overshadowed other events on the field on the second day of the second Test against Australia on Saturday.

Karunaratne was hit by a bouncing delivery on his helmet and was taken off the field at Manuka Oval on a stretcher. He was later shown being taken to a hospital by ambulance.

Karunaratne crumpled to the ground after ducking into a Pat Cummins bouncer which rocketed into the back of his helmet after the tea break. The 30-year-old Karunaratne retired hurt on 46 and play was delayed for close to 15 minutes while medical officials from both teams attended to the batsman.

Coach Chandika Hathurusingha later confirmed his player was "in good spirits" and in "no danger".

"It was a bit scary at the start the way he fell back, but he was okay throughout, he was talking to the umpires and the physio. It hit on the back of the neck so he is being assessed."

Sri Lanka was 82 for no loss at the time of the incident. At stumps, Sri Lanka was 123-3, still trailing Australia's first innings of 534-5 declared, by 411 runs.

Earlier, Kurtis Patterson became Australia's third century-maker of its first innings, scoring an unbeaten 114. Patterson made Sri Lanka pay for dropping him on the first ball he faced.

Australia's century drought, which dated to Dubai in October, ended as Patterson joined Joe Burns and Travis Head in reaching three figures.

In the morning session, Australian opener Burns' career-best innings ended on 180 after being bowled. The Queensland batsman appeared set to become the first Australian to score a double century since Steve Smith's 239 against England in December 2017.

Karunaratne's injury saw play stopped for 15 minutes (EPA)

But Burns played onto his stumps off a ball from Sri Lankan fast bowler Kasun Rajitha, adding eight runs to his overnight score.

Vishwa Fernando was the best of the Sri Lankan bowlers in the first innings with three wickets for 126 runs.

Burns' innings and his record 308-run partnership with Head (161) on the first day put Australia in an almost unbeatable position to ensure it wins its first test series since the 2017-18 Ashes.

Australia beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 40 runs in the first test at Brisbane.