COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Aug 17: Australia lost a wicket at the stroke of lunch on Wednesday's fifth day to be 77-1 in its pursuit of 324 to win the third and final test against Sri Lanka.

Shaun Marsh was brilliantly caught at short-leg by Kusal Mendis off spinner Dilruwan Perera for 23.

David Warner was not out on on 44, having survived two video reviews from successive deliveries from Perera.

Sri Lanka declared its second innings at 347-8 earlier, setting Australia a daunting target on a wearing final day pitch.

Dhananjaya de Silva followed up his first innings maiden century with an unbeaten 65. He faced 74 balls and hit 10 boundaries to increase the scoring rate.

Kaushal Silva anchored the innings with a return to form 115 having scored just 18 runs in his previous five test innings. Dinesh Chandimal supported the innings with 43.

Australian off spinner Nathan Lyon took 4-123 runs having toiled for 37 overs.

Sri Lanka made 355 runs in its first innings and Australia made 379.

Sri Lanka leads the series 2-0 and looks for a series sweep in the three-match series.

 
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