Jayasuriya's century was hit 11th in Test cricket

Sanath Jayasuriya made 131 for Sri Lanka to set up an intriguing finish in the second Test against Australia.

The home side were 301-7 at close of play in Kandy, needing another 51 runs to level the series at 1-1.

Damien Martyn achieved his highest Test score of 161 before Australia were bowled out for 442, with Muttiah Muralitharan taking 5-173.

Jayasuriya responded by hitting two sixes and 17 fours to put the outcome of the match in the balance.

Australia began the day on 320-5 and Martyn and Andrew Symonds extended their partnership to 56 before Symonds was lbw to Muralitharan for 23 after missing an attempted sweep shot.

Shane Warne did not last long, lofting a catch to long-off when he had made only six, and Muralitharan also accounted for Jason Gillespie, who was taken by Marvan Atapattu at mid-on for 11.

Michael Kasprowicz hit a straight six before falling to left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa for eight, but Martyn continued past his previous best Test score of 133 as he and Stuart MacGill added 34 for the last wicket.

Martyn reached 150 with a six off Muralitharan but the spinner finally took his revenge to bring the innings to a close.

Shane Warne added to his career tally with 3-83 for Australia

Sri Lanka's reply began badly as Gillespie and Kasprowicz won lbw decisions against Atapattu and Avishka Gunawardene, who departed for eight and nine respectively.

But Kumar Sangakkara joined Jayasuriya in a stand of 62 before he was caught and bowled by Warne for 29.

With fellow leg-spinner Stuart MacGill coming in for heavy punishment, conceding 69 from 12 overs, the onus was on Warne to bowl Australia towards a series-clinching win.

He removed home captain Hashan Tillakaratne for seven and bowled TM Dilshan for 43, but the key wicket of Jayasuriya went to Jason Gillespie with the help of wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist's catch.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 274-7 but Chaminda Vaas (30) and Kaushal Lokuarachchi (13) played out the last six overs to keep their team in the hunt.

Sri Lanka: H Tillakaratne (capt), M Atapattu, S Jayasuriya, A Gunawardene, K Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, TM Dilshan, C Vaas, K Lokuarachchi, N Zoysa, M Muralitharan.

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

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