SL v AUS 3rd Test: Kaushal Silva ton puts Sri Lanka in command

Sri Lanka now lead Australia by 244 runs 

Sri Lanka's Kaushal Silva celebrates scoring a hundred against Australia during the fourth day of the third test cricket match between them in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (AP)

COLOMBO: Kaushal Silva's timely return to form with a century put Sri Lanka in command of the third test against Australia as the hosts reached 312-8 at stumps on the fourth day Tuesday.

Silva's third test hundred came after a string of failures that yielded him just 18 runs in his last five test innings.

Having conceded a first innings lead of 24 runs, Sri Lanka is now leading by 288 runs, already a formidable chase for the visitors on a wearing, final-day pitch.

Silva came into bat at No. 3 because of a finger injury and spent six hours at the crease and hit 10 boundaries in a patient, watchful knock.

Sri Lanka scored 355 in its first innings and Australia made 379.

Sri Lanka leads the three-match series 2-0.

BRIEF SCORES

Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 355 (Dinesh Chandimal 132, Dhananjaya de Silva 129; Mitchell Starc 5-63, Nathan Lyon 3-110)

Australia 1st Innings: 379 (Shaun Marsh 130, Steve Smith 119, Mitchell Marsh 53; Rangana Herath 6-81)

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings: 312-8 (Kaushal Silva 115, Dhananjaya de Silva 44 not out, Dinesh Chandimal 43; Nathan Lyon 4-123, Mitchell Starc 2-58, Jon Holland 2-72)