Improved Sri Lanka keep Aussies at bay

PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka put on a determined batting display, losing just two wickets in their second innings against Australia on Sunday.

Sri Lanka, who were dismissed for 174 in the first innings, moved to 164-2 by tea on the fourth day of the second Test at the Pallekele International Stadium.

Former captains Kumar Sangakkara (35) and Mahela Jayawardene (13) were together at the crease, with the hosts only 73 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.

Australia captain Michael Clarke, worried over forecasts of bad weather for the last two days of the match, had declared his team's first innings at an overnight score of 411-7.

Sri Lanka's openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana (55) put on 81 for the first wicket, their best partnership of the series so far after stands of four, zero and two in the previous three outings.

Under bright skies they warded off the early threat from the Australian seamers on a good batting wicket.

But Dilshan undid the good work just before lunch with a wild heave, soon after a five-minute stoppage due to bad light.

The captain, who looked settled in on 36, drove at a wide ball outside the off-stump from seamer Ryan Harris but only managed to edge a catch to Shane Watson at first slip.

Paranavitana went on to compile his eighth Test half century before falling to a controversial decision by third umpire Aleem Dar.

The left-hander played defensively to Mike Hussey and the ball lodged in the gloves of wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, who was the only one to appeal for a catch.

When umpire Tony Hill turned down the appeal, the Australians asked for -- and received -- a favourable review from Dar, even though television replays proved inconclusive.

The tourists are looking to clinch the three-match series on their first Test tour of Sri Lanka since 2004 after winning the opening contest in Galle by 125 runs.