Sangakkara gives Sri Lankans hope

TASMANIA, Australia -- Kumar Sangakkara scored his first century against Australia as Sri Lanka set up the chance of an unlikely victory going into the final day of the second and final Test in Hobart.

The tourists reached 247-3 in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day, still 260 runs short of what would be a record run-chase.

Sangakkara, who missed his side's crushing defeat in the first Test in Brisbane due to a hamstring injury, was unbeaten on 109 along with the veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, who had compiled 33.

Jayasuriya, more used to opening the innings, had to see off a hat-trick ball from Brett Lee after the Australians fought back to cut short a promising start by Sri Lanka.

Opener Michael Vandort fell for just four after his badly miscued pull shot off Mitchell Johnson was snapped up by substitute fielder Rhett Lockyer, who was on for the injured Andrew Symonds.

But Sangakkara joined former skipper Marvan Atapattu at the crease, and the duo put on 143 for the second wicket before Lee struck twice in two deliveries.

The 36-year-old Atapattu, recalled to the squad despite his public criticism of the selectors, made a patient 80 off 164 balls before hooking the paceman to Phil Jaques on the square leg boundary.

And then Lee bowled first-innings centurion Mahela Jayawardene with his next ball for a duck with a swinging yorker that knocked back the Sri Lanka captain's off-stump.

However, Jayasuriya dug in with Sangakkara, who reached his 15th Test ton as the duo put on an unbroken 89 to set up a fascinating final three sessions.

"You've got to be realistic that 507 is a massive ask but the direction in which we go tomorrow is now basically up to us," Sangakkara said.

"If we can get through to lunch without losing a wicket, and depending on the amount of runs we get, then things can get a lot clearer, but I don't really want to be a soothsayer and say what will happen.

"The bounce is just starting to get a bit lower and that's going to be a bit of a concern for the batters, but other than that it's pretty much playing a straight line.

"They'll probably bowl pretty good reverse swing at the end, but if we can get through that batters coming in will be confident and back themselves to get runs on this track."

Australia had resumed the fourth day on 111-1, with Jaques on 53 and captain Ricky Ponting on seven.

Ponting was able to declare, for the second time in the match, 45 minutes before lunch as his side progressed to 210-2.

Jaques added 15 runs to his overnight tally before being caught on the point boundary by Vandort off Lasith Malinga as he failed in his bid for a third consecutive century.

Ponting moved to 53 not out, while Mike Hussey cracked 34 off 48 balls.

Australia may have some nerves, however, having allowed the West Indies to achieve the highest run chase in Test history with 418-7 in Antigua in May 2003.

And Australia made 369-6 at Hobart's Bellerive Oval to beat Pakistan in 1999, which was the fourth-highest final-innings effort.

Ponting's decision to declare left Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan five wickets short of Australian Shane Warne's record haul of 708 victims.

Muralitharan, who dismissed Matthew Hayden at the end of the third day, will now seek to overtake leg-spinner Warne in this month's home series against England.

The 35-year-old has struggled to make an impact in the three innings in which he has bowled on this tour, taking four wickets while conceding 400 runs as the Australian batsmen have dominated.

Meanwhile, former Australia batsman Darren Lehmann has announced his retirement at the age of 37.

The left-hander scored 1,798 runs at an average of 44.95 in 27 Tests and played in 117 one-day internationals.

His 13,468 runs in 146 Sheffield Shield matches for Victoria and South Australia is a record. E-mail to a friend

All About Kumar Sangakkara • Cricket