PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) Spinners picked three of Australia's top order wickets to put Sri Lanka in command of the first test as the tourists, chasing 268 to win reached 83 for three at tea.
Rangana Herath brought the first breakthrough bowling opener David Warner for one with the total on two. After 30 runs Dilruwan Perera had Usman Khawaja (18) lbw and Lakshan Sandakan bowled out Joe Burns with a sharp turner for 29.
Captain Steve Smith (26) and Adam Voges (9) were batting.
Earlier batsman Kusal Mendis made 176 to lift Sri Lanka from a precarious position. Sri Lanka trailing Australia by 86 runs in the first innings fell 86 for four before Mendis turned the innings around.
Sri Lanka was dismissed for 117 in its first innings and Australia made 203.
