Silva is delighted after scoring his third Test century

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Batting for the first time at the No. 3 spot, Sri Lanka batsman Kaushal Silva showed patience, poise and control to score a magnificent century against Australia and give his side a lead of almost 300 runs on the fourth day of the third Test in Colombo.

Silva joined an elite club as a result of his ton as he became only the third Sri Lankan batsman to score a hundred in their maiden innings at No. 3 after Roshan Mahanama, who made 225 against India in August 1997, and Thilan Samaraweera, who scored 142 against England in December 2003.

Starting off the day on 22/1, Sri Lanka opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne fell early on as he was stumped by Peter Nevill off the bowling of Nathan Lyon for 22.

Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis made encouraging starts, but failed to convert it into big scores as they were dismissed for 24 and 18 respectively.

Silva and Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews stabilised the innings with a 58-run partnership, during which Silva surpassed his half-century, before Mathews was removed by Nathan Lyon for 26.

Silva and wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal kept the runs flowing with a 90-run stand, during which Silva brought up his third Test century, before Chandimal was given out lbw off the bowling of Lyon for 43.

Silva ended up making 115 off 269 balls, which included 10 boundaries, before he was caught by Australia captain Steven Smith off the bowling of Jon Holland.

Rangana Herath failed to have an impact with the bat as he was dismissed by Lyon for five runs.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Suranga Lakmal managed to amass an unbeaten 15-run partnership before stumps was called.

De Silva finished on 44 off 56 balls, which included seven boundaries, while Lakmal has yet to get off the mark.

Lyon was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Holland and Mitchell Starc took two wickets apiece.

With his two wickets, Starc has now taken 24 wickets in the series, the most by a non-Asian pace bowler in a Test series in Asia consisting of three matches or fewer. New Zealand seamer Richard Hadlee held the previous record as he took 23 wickets against Sri Lanka in 1983/84.

Sri Lanka ended day four on 312/8 and will continue batting on Wednesday at 10:00 local time or 04:30 GMT.