Oz take a safe route

Sri Lanka were bundled out for 246 in reply, 97 runs short of the follow-on target and 296 runs in arrears. But Mahela Jayawardene8217;s first Test hundred against Australia and Kumar Sangakkara8217;s 57 8212; and not wanting to face Muttiah Muralitharan8217;s spin on the fifth day 8212; likely influenced Ponting8217;s decision to bat again and set a big target.

At stumps on the third day, Australia were 111/1 in their second innings with an overall lead of 407. Matthew Hayden was the only wicket to fall, trapped lbw for 33 by Muralitharan three runs after he8217;d survived a strong appeal under similar circumstances.

That was Muralitharan8217;s 704th Test wicket, four behind retired Australian legspinner Shane Warne8217;s world record of 708.

Scoreboard

Australia: 542-5 dec

Sri Lanka 1st Innings

M Atapattu c Clarke b Lee 25, M Vandort b Lee 14,K Sangakkara c Hussey b Johnson 57, M Jayawardene c Clarke b Lee 104, S Jayasuriya b MacGill 3, C Silva c Gilchrist b MacGill 4, P Jayawardene c Gilchrist b Clark 0, F Maharoof run out 19, D Fernando c Gilchrist b Lee 2, L Malinga b Clark 1, M Muralitharan not out 1, Extras: 9nb, 7lb 16; Total: all out, 81.2 overs 246

Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-54, 3-127, 4-134, 5-152, 6-163, 7-196, 8-207, 9-243.

Bowling: Lee 23.2-4-82-4, Johnson 17-3-44-1, Clark 16-6-32-2, MacGill 25-5-81-2

Australia 2nd Innings

P Jacques batting 53, M Hayden lbw Muralitharan 33, R Ponting 7,

Extras: 15nb,1lb,2b 18; Total: for 1 wkt, 20 overs 111

Fall of wickets: 1-83.

Bowling: Malinga 7-0-41-0, Fernando 6-0-35-0, Muralitharan 7-0-32-1