THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOBART, Australia — Tillakaratne Dilshan set about rebuilding Sri Lanka’s first innings, hitting his 15th century before lunch Sunday to give the tourists a good chance of avoiding the follow-on on day three of the first test against Australia.
Sri Lanka had slumped to 87-4 overnight but Dilshan took the fight to the bowlers with 103 not out in a total of 187-4.
Dilshan started the day on 50 and built an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 100 with Angelo Mathews (45 not out) against a bowling outfit depleted by a side injury to Ben Hilfenhaus.
Dilshan’s positive 151-ball knock contained 16 fours and leaves his side 263 runs behind after Saturday’s aggressive declaration of 450-5 by Australia captain Michael Clarke.
Sri Lanka desperately needed a big knock from one of its premier batsmen after Kkumar Sangakkara and captain Mahela Jayawardene were among those to fail in Saturday’s final session.
Dilshan obliged with his first century in Australia.
The opener only showed nerves once he reached the mid 90s, diving to make his ground for an unnecessary single and taking 16 deliveries across six overs to move from 96 to his hundred.
The 36-year-old batsman finally reached the mark by guiding a ball from Peter Siddle to the third man boundary. Dilshan bellowed in delight as he watched the ball depart, galloped down the wicket in celebration and removed helmet to kiss the Sri Lanka badge.
He then returned swiftly to the crease and took up guard to resume the task of rescuing his side.
He did not get much of a chance, facing just three more balls before rain forced the umpires to take the players from the field 30 minutes before the scheduled lunch break.
Australia’s pace attack was depleted when Hilfenhaus trudged off two balls into his fourth over of the day, leaving Shane Watson to complete the 38th over.
He was grimacing through his deliveries with what looked to be a side injury and departed the ground for treatment
The ramifications of losing Hilfenhaus became clear in the following over when Dilshan took on Mitchell Starc, hitting the junior paceman for a pair of boundaries.
Australia is now likely to have to bat again despite Mike Hussey’s unbeaten 115 in the first innings. Clarke, Phil Hughes and Matthew Wade all made solid scores to put the home side in the ascendancy.