GALLE, March 11: Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn capped a remarkable Australian fightback on Thursday with robust centuries to put Sri Lanka under pressure of saving the first Test here.
Lehmann smashed 129 and Martyn 110 as Australia, trailing by 161, posted a massive 512-8 declared in their second innings to set a stiff 352-run target for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, who have never chased more than 326 in the fourth innings to win a Test, were three for no loss at stumps on the fourth day. Lehmann and Martyn reduced Sri Lanka to a state of helplessness with their exciting stroke-play, putting on a record 206 for the fourth wicket.
Their stand was Australia's best for the fourth wicket against Sri Lanka, the previous highest being 163 between Mark Taylor and Allan Border at Hobart in 1989-90.
Left-handed Lehmann made a dream comeback after a five-month layoff due to an injury, following a half-century in the first innings with his fourth Test hundred. He smashed one six and 16 fours in his 214-ball knock.
Martyn struck 10 fours in his sixth Test century, his first since February 2002. None of the Sri Lankan spinners, including Muralitharan, could trouble Martyn and Lehmann on a pitch getting slower and slower with each session.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA (1st Innings 220 (D.S. Lehmann 63; M. Muralitharan 6-59).
