Left-armer Herath finished with four for 97 as Australia slumped from 188 for five overnight to 228 all out on a day when the first two sessions were lost to rain.

Sri Lanka had made 44 for no wicket at the close, a lead of 112, and Australia will not be relishing facing Herath and Muttiah Muralitharan, who took five wickets on Thursday, in the fourth innings.

Play began at 1600 (IST) due to heavy rain that soaked the outfield. Australia lasted just 51 minutes, captain Steve Waugh struggling to 19 before falling to Herath.

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 296

Australia (1st innings, overnight 188-5): M Slater st Kaluwitharana b Muralitharan 96, G Blewett b Muralitharan 62, J Langer c Ranatunga b Muralitharan 7, M Waugh c Ranatunga b Muralitharan 10, S Waugh c Kaluwitharana bHerath 19, I Healy c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 4, R Ponting c Ranatunga b Herath 1, S Warne c Atapattu b Herath 0, D Fleming b Herath 16, C Miller run out 6, G McGrath not out 0. Extras (b1, lb4, nb2): 7.

Total (all out, 96.3 overs): 228.

Fall of wickets: 1-138 2-160 3-179 4-182 5-188 6-189 7-189 8-215 9-228.

Bowling: Vaas 9-3-31-0, Zoysa 6-1-9-0, Herath 34.3-6-97-4, Muralitharan 38-10-71-5, Jayasuriya 9-1-15-0.

Sri Lanka (2nd innings): S Jayasuriya batting 19, M Atapattu batting 21. Extras (lb3, nb1): 4.

Total (for no wicket, 13 overs): 44.

Bowling: McGrath 5-2-13-0, Fleming 4-0-15-0, Miller 2-1-8-0, Warne 2-0-5-0.