Sri Lankans battling back against the Aussies

DHANANJAYA DE SILVA scored his maiden Test century as he and Dinesh Chandimal dug Sri Lanka out of a deep hole on yesterday’s opening day of the third and final Test against Australia in Colombo.

Sri Lanka looked at risk of being bowled out for their lowest-ever Test score – currently 71 – when they crashed to 26 for five after winning the toss and opting to bat.

Paceman Mitchell Starc (three for 47) and spinner Nathan Lyon (two for 72) did all the early damage as Australia, 2-0 down in the three-match series, made a flying start to this dead rubber.

However, De Silva and vicecaptain Chandimal joined forces in an unbroken 188-run stand to guide Sri Lanka to 214 for five at the close.

The 24-year-old De Silva led the way with his maiden international century in just his third Test, finishing unbeaten on 116 with 16 fours, while Chandimal was 64 not out.

The duo rode their luck at times, with De Silva being dropped by Shaun Marsh soon after reaching his hundred when he drilled Starc straight to the fielder at short cover, but both players still batted superbly to leave Sri Lanka in a much healthier position at stumps.