CAIRNS, July 10: Sri Lanka fought back to dismiss Australia for 517 and reach 184 for two in their first innings reply on Saturday at the close of the second day of the second Test.

Kumar Sangakkara and Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu put on 138 in 160 minutes for the second wicket before wrist spinner Shane Warne had Sangakkara caught at long on for 74.

Atapattu was unbeaten on 75 from 167 balls including 11 boundaries and Mahela Jayawardene was not out nine by the close. Sri Lanka still trailed by 333 runs on the first innings.

Left-hander Sangakkara, freed of the extra duties of wicket-keeping for the second Test, hit eight fours in his stylish 114-ball knock.

Earlier, leg-spinner Upul Chandana was Sri Lanka's chief wicket-taker with a return of five for 109 from 26 overs.

Australia lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 149 runs in Darwin last week.

Justin Langer, who had put on 255 for the first wicket with Matthew Hayden (117), was first man out for Australia on Saturday for 162, caught at slip off Malinga.

Chandana's five victims included Damien Martyn, leg before wicket for 97, and Darren Lehmann, caught at long on for 50.

Australia had resumed at 370 for two, adding 104 runs in the pre-lunch session for the loss of five wickets. Australia were all out soon after lunch, losing their last seven wickets for 63 runs.

Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said the home side had let Sri Lanka back into the game by losing their last seven wickets for 63 when a score of 600 seemed likely.

"It was a bit disappointing. We had the opportunity to close Sri Lanka out of the game, but all credit to them for clawing their way back," Gilchrist told reporters.

Gilchrist said Australia hoped the wicket would take more spin later in the match.

The 34-year-old leg-spinner Warne requires eight wickets in the match to break Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's world record of 527.

"I've said all along, Warnie is a special bowler and he is capable of getting eight wickets anywhere in the world," Gilchrist said.

Chandana, speaking through a translator, said he was very happy with his five-wicket haul, his second in his 12-Test career.

"The pitch is not turning. I bowled flat and my aim was just to contain," Chandana said.

"We can go forward from here (184 for two). We are very confident after getting eight wickets today and our batsmen have put on a good display.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings, overnight 370-2):

J.L. Langer c J'dene b Malinga 162

M.L. Hayden c J'suriya b S'weera 117

R.T. Ponting c Atapattu b Malinga 22

D.R. Martyn lbw b Chandana 97

D.S. Lehmann c S'kkara b Chandana 50

S.M. Katich b Chandana 1

A.C. Gilchrist c K'rana b Malinga 35

S.K. Warne c S'weera b Chandana 2

J.N. Gillespie c K'rana b Malinga 1

M.S. Kasprowicz c Atapattu b Chandana 9

G.D. McGrath not out 0

EXTRAS (B-7, LB-3, W-4, NB-7) 21

TOTAL (all out, 124.2 overs) 517

FALL OF WKTS: 1-255, 2-291, 3-392, 4-454, 5-462, 6-469, 7-474, 8-475, 9-485.

BOWLING: Vaas 27-2-102-0; Zoysa 19-5-72-0; Samaraweera 17-3-55-1; Malinga 29.2-2-149-4 (7nb, 4w); Chandana 26.2-2-109-5; Jayasuriya 6-0-20-0.

SRI LANKA (1st Innings):

S.T. Jayasuriya c G'rist b G'espie 13

M.S. Atapattu not out 75

K.C. Sangakkara c Gillespie b Warne 74

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene not out 9

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-5, W-1, NB-6) 13

TOTAL (for two wkts, 53 overs) 184

FALL OF WKTS: 1-18, 2-156.

TO BAT: T.T. Samaraweera, T.M. Dilshan, R.S. Kaluwitharana, U.D.U. Chandana, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, D.N.T. Zoysa, L.S. Malinga.

BOWLING (to-date): McGrath 11-3-23-0 (3nb); Gillespie 17-3-57-1 (1w); Kasprowicz 12-3-39-0 (3nb); Warne 13-1-59-1.-Reuters