Birt was the second-highest runscorer in last winter's Pura Cup

Australian Travis Birt smashed 83 from 53 balls to leave Sri Lanka under pressure in their tour match at Derby.

The tourists' decision to declare 53 behind on 166-7 backfired as Derbyshire dashed to 208-4 with a day remaining.

Birt dominated a second-wicket stand of 126 with Chris Taylor (53) and hit Muttiah Muralitharan's first three deliveries for two fours and a six.

Sri Lanka struggled on a slow seamer's pitch, Chamara Kapugedera (45) and Farveez Maharoof (44) doing best.

Kevin Dean bowled Upul Tharanga in the second over of the day and Michael Vandort was run out next ball.

Three overs later stand-in captain Kumar Sangakkara was lbw pressing forward in defence to Tom Lungley, who also had Tillakaratne Dilshan caught.

Left-hander Birt, 24, was the second-highest scorer in last winter's Pura Cup competition in Australia.

He looks likely to stay with Derbyshire for the whole summer after a registration mix-up with first-choice overseas star Mohammad Yousuf.

Birt was matter-of-fact afterwards, saying of paceman Lasith Malinga: "He's taken 50 Test wickets in 15 Tests so far so obviously he can bowl a bit."

And despite his assault on Muralitharan he said of the star spinner: "He is a great bowler and he is still going to take a lot of Test wickets.