Sri Lanka misery continues

Replying to Australia's first-innings total of 542 for five declared, only Jayawardene (104) and Kumar Sangakkara (57) could make meaningful contributions as the tourists were skittled for 246.

Jaques then continued his imperious form, adding an unbeaten 53 to the two centuries he has already amassed in this series as Australia closed on 111 for one - a lead of 407.

Resuming on 29 without loss, Sri Lanka lost the wickets of Michael Vandort in the sixth over when he had his middle stump removed by Brett Lee, and the paceman had Marvan Atapattu caught by Michael Clarke to leave the tourists struggling on 54-2.

But Sangakkara steadied the ship, at times riding his luck before falling just prior to lunch - Mike Hussey claiming the catch at gulley off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.

The afternoon session was something of a procession, Stuart MacGill bowled Sanath Jayasuriya (three) before Chamara Silva was caught by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist off the leg-spinner for four.

Prasanna Jayawardene was caught behind for a duck off the bowling of Stuart Clark and Sri Lanka's cause was not helped when Farveez Maharoof was run out for 19 inexplicably attempting a quick single.

Lee induced Dilhara Fernando (two) into an outside edge through to Gilchrist for his third wicket and leave Sri Lanka 202 for eight at tea.

All the time captain Jayawardene was quietly accumulating as the wickets fell at the other end and he took matters into his own hands in the evening session. Lasith Malinga faced 24 balls for one run before being bowled by Clark and the captain was the last man to fall, caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Lee.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting chose not to enforce the follow-on and there was still time for Jaques to add to his rapidly growing reputation, smashing 53 off 70 balls to pile further misery on the tourists.