Gilchrist takes control at Kandy

Australia 120 and 221 for 2 (Gilchrist 140*, Martyn 64*) lead Sri Lanka 211 (Vaas 68*, Warne 5-65) by 130 runs
Scorecard

In a stunning contrast to the first day, the bat held sway at Kandy on the second and Adam Gilchrist swung the momentum Australia's way with an unbeaten hundred, full of grit and character after an unlikely and hugely entertaining 79-run last-wicket partnership between Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan had helped Sri Lanka gain a 91-run first-innings lead. At the end of day, Gilchrist and Damien Martyn had taken Australia to 221 for two and a lead of 130.

Gilchrist, who came into the match with four ducks in his last seven visits to the crease in Sri Lanka, made full use of the opportunity to bat up the order after Ricky Ponting sprained his back, and rescued Australia with 140 from 175 balls. It was not one of his blazing lower-order assaults, but it was still aggressive and studded with three sixes and 19 fours.

Gilchrist was supported by Martyn, who played a more subdued hand, scoring 64 from 140 balls, and provided the perfect counterfoil to Gilchrist's aggression. The pair settled in on a pitch that had lost its menace, and added a record 195 for the third wicket, surpassing Australia's previous highest third-wicket stand against Sri Lanka.

Australia's lead may already look imposing when compared to the first-innings scores, but this is a pitch that should get better and better for batting. Just two months ago a world record was set on a similar surface at the same venue when a team chased a 512-run target. Australia have their noses ahead, but Sri Lanka are by no means out of the game.

Vaas led Sri Lanka's morning recovery, carrying the attack to Australia's bowlers with an unbeaten 68. But his innings was overshadowed by Muralitharan, who chipped, swatted and swung his way to 43 from 28 balls, whacking three sixes and five fours.

Sri Lanka, starting the day on 92 for 7 with the match poised on a knife-edge, quickly wiped away the 28-run deficit and then secured a useful 91-run lead - a lead that would have been beyond their wildest dreams before the start of play. Vaas and Muralitharan played a large part, frustrating Australia with an entertaining 79-run stand for the last wicket, delighting a small crowd of locals as they swung the initiative back to Sri Lanka.

Australia's morning was made worse by an injury to Ponting, who sprained his back after his spikes got caught in the sponsor's advertising mats. Ponting left the field for treatment immediately and received treatment throughout the afternoon.

Australia went to lunch on 11 for 0 but lost Matthew Hayden (5) to the first ball of the afternoon, with Chaminda Vaas pocketing a simple return catch on his follow-through off the bat and front pad. Australia's woes deepened five overs later when Justin Langer wafted airily outside off and nicked a thin edge off Nuwan Zoysa (26 for 2).

Fortunately for Australia, Gilchrist batted himself back into form. He played edgily at the start, flirting outside his off stump without conviction, but gradually slotted back into his dangerous free-scoring groove. As the afternoon drew to a close, he slipped into top gear, sweeping with tremendous power and lofting down the ground.

Martyn lived even more dangerously at the start as an edge flew low to Mahela Jayawardene at second slip before he had scored. He also came perilously close to being trapped lbw by Vaas a short while later. But like Gilchrist, he eventually bedded down and was then rarely troubled.

Earlier, Nuwan Zoysa signalled Sri Lanka's positive intentions early with a majestic cover-drive for four. But Zoysa did not last long as he groped tentatively at a wide delivery from Michael Kasprowicz and was caught behind. Lokuarachchi might have been dismissed off the next ball, but the inside edge just evaded Adam Gilchrist.

Lokuarachchi, who was included in the side in place of Upul Chandana, showed some class with a glorious back-foot cover-drive off Kasprowicz. But he was less assured against Warne and eventually skied a simple catch to short fine leg as he tried to sweep (132 for 9).

At this stage, considering their meltdown the previous evening, Sri Lanka would have settled for a handful of lusty blows from Muralitharan. But Muralitharan did that and more, as he indulged in an orgy of hitting - an innings that showed complete disregard to any classical batting theory.

Most of the crowd collapsed in laughter at his antics, but Kasprowicz, who finished with 4 for 83, could be forgiven for not being amused after being hit out of the attack as Muralitharan clubbed 16 runs off an over, including one sweet blow onto the steps of the lime-green old pavilion.

The carnage continued against the spinners too, as sixes were heaved over midwicket off Warne and Stuart MacGill. But just then, on the verge of a fifty, Muralitharan skied a catch to mid-on. Warne, the wicket-taker, finished with 5 for 65 from 20.1 overs, his third consecutive five-wicket haul since returning to the national side in Galle.