CAIRNS, July 12: Shane Warne moved within four wickets of the world record as Australia bowled out Sri Lanka for 455 on the fourth day of the second Test on Monday, giving the hosts a first innings advantage of 62.
Australia reached 194 for two from 49 overs before the close of play for an overall lead of 256 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand. Resuming on their overnight score of 411 for five, Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for 10 runs with leg-spinner Warne finishing with three for 129 from 38 overs.
The 34-year-old Warne now has 523 Test wickets, four behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan who opted out of the tour for personal reasons. Australia paceman Jason Gillespie also took three wickets as the hosts gave themselves a chance of clinching a 2-0 series victory.
First innings century-maker Matthew Hayden was unbeaten on 68 in Australia's second innings with Damien Martyn blasting a quick fire 52 not out from 54 balls. Justin Langer was the first man out in Australia's second innings, caught behind off Nuwan Zoysa for eight in the second over.
Hayden then put on 95 for the first wicket with captain Ricky Ponting who was caught at gully by Sanath Jayasuriya off the bowling of left-armer Zoysa for 45 at 105 for two. Martyn put on 89 for the third wicket with Hayden in just 74 minutes.
Wet weather had wiped out the morning session and both teams took an early lunch before play started at 12.10 local time (0210 GMT) with Australia keen to make up for lost time.
Glenn McGrath struck in the third over, when Romesh Kaluwitharana was caught at slip for 34 at 420 for six. Gillespie then removed Thilan Samaraweera for 70 and Chaminda Vaas for two, both caught by Ponting at second slip.
Warne had fellow leg-spinner Upul Chandana stumped on 19 and last man Lasith Malinga was run out without scoring. Captain Marvan Atapattu top scored for the tourists with 133. Kumar Sangakkara (74) and Mahela Jayawardene (43) shared century partnerships with Atapattu for the second and third wickets.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 517 (J.L. Langer 162, M.L. Hayden 117, D.R. Martyn 97, D.S. Lehmann 50; U.D.U. Chandana 5-109, L.S. Malinga 4-149).
SRI LANKA (1st Innings, overnight 411-5):
S.T. Jayasuriya c G'rist b G'espie 13
M.S. Atapattu c Hayden b McGrath 133
K.C. Sangakkara c G'espie b Warne 74
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c and b Kasprowicz 43
T.T. Samaraweera c Ponting b G'espie 70
T.M. Dilshan c Kasprowicz b Warne 35
R.S, Kaluwitharana c Warne b McGrath 34
U.D.U. Chandana st G'rist b Warne 19
W.P.U.J.C. Vaas c Ponting b G'espie 2
D.N.T. Zoysa not out 0
L.S. Malinga run out 0
EXTRAS (B-3, LB-10, W-2, NB-17) 32
TOTAL (all out, 144.4 overs) 455
FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-156, 3-280, 4-280, 5-345, 6-420, 7-445, 8-455, 9-455.
BOWLING: McGrath 34-10-79-2 (3nb); Gillespie 37.4-6-116-3 (2w); Kasprowicz 32-5-113-1 (13nb); Warne 38-7-129-3 (1nb); Lehmann 3-0-5-0.
AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings):
J.L. Langer c K'rana b Zoysa 8
M.L. Hayden not out 68
R.T. Ponting c Jayasuriya b Zoysa 45
D.R. Martyn not out 52
EXTRAS (LB-16, W-1, NB-4) 21
TOTAL (for two wkts, 49 overs) 194
FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-105.
BOWLING: Vaas 13-3-52-0 (4nb); Zoysa 12-5-22-2; Malinga 5-0-23-0 (1w); Samaraweera 6-0-20-0; Chandana 10-1-53-0; Jayasuriya 3-0-8-0. -Reuters