Gilchrist launches into an expansive cover drive

Adam Gilchrist returned to form with his 10th Test century as Australia built a 130-run lead over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Kandy.

They were 221-2 at the close on day two with Gilchrist 140 not out and Damien Martyn unbeaten on 64.

Gilchrist hit three sixes and 19 fours after going in at number three because Ricky Ponting has a back injury.

Chaminda Vaas (68 not out) and Muttiah Muralitharan (43) had earlier seen Sri Lanka to a first innings total of 211.

Their stand of 79 was a Sri Lankan record for the 10th wicket, beating the 73-run partnership between Hashan Tillakaratne and Sajeewa de Silva against Pakistan at Dhaka in 1998-99.

It carried the home side to a 91-run first innings lead and Australia were in a precarious position when they were reduced to 26-2 during the afternoon session.

I felt much clearer in my head today and I looked to play as straight as possible Adam Gilchrist Full Gilchrist reaction

But Gilchrist was in the mood to take Sri Lanka on after scores of 4, 0 and 0 in his three previous innings in the series.

Spinner Muralitharan, who reached 500 Test wickets during Australia's first innings, was unable to add to his tally as he sent down 22 overs for figures of 0-81.

Gilchrist was on 58 at tea and accelerated following the resumption with a series of typically assertive strokes.

Martyn was content to fill the supporting role and their stand was worth 195 when the two batsmen accepted an offer of bad light from the umpires.

Australia began the day looking to polish off the Sri Lankan tail as quickly as possible after reducing them to 92-7 and achieved a breakthrough in the fourth over when Nuwan Zoysa was caught behind off Michael Kasprowicz for four.

Kasprowicz was involved again when he took a catch to dismiss Kaushal Lokuarachchi off Warne for 15.

Muralitharan gave the Sri Lankan innings a rousing finish

But Muralitharan's unorthodox methods frustrated Australia and delighted his home town crowd in equal measure as hit two fours and a six in the same over from Kasprowicz and then lofted Shane Warne away over the ropes at mid-wicket.

Vaas was sedate by comparison but reached his seventh Test half century off 86 balls and celebrated with a six of his own.

He also collected seven fours before Warne ended Muralitharan's 28-ball cameo with the help of a catch by Andrew Symonds to finish with figures of 5-65.

Australia made a poor start to their second innings when Matthew Hayden gave a return catch to Vaas soon after lunch, having made only five.

Opening partner Justin Langer did not fare much better, falling caught behind to Nuwan Zoysa for nine in the 10th over of their innings.

Australia: Ponting (capt), Hayden, Langer, Martyn, Lehmann, Symonds, Gilchrist, Warne, Gillespie, Kasprowicz, MacGill.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor, West Indies, and David Orchard, South Africa.