HOBART — Australia removed both Sri Lanka openers cheaply to leave the tourists clinging on at 65 for two and chasing an unlikely 393 for victory at the close of play on the fourth day of the first Test Monday. Sri Lanka's hopes are in the experienced hands of Kumar Sangakkara (18 not out) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (five not out) after Tillakaratne Dilshan and Dimuth Karunaratne both fell victim to superb deliveries. Australia skipper Michael Clarke had earlier played a glittering cameo by smashing 57 runs off 46 balls to help drive the host to 278 in its second innings before he retired hurt with a hamstring injury. Sri Lanka was dismissed for 336 Sunday in reply to Australia's first innings 450-5 declared and will need to set a new record for a fourth innings run chase at Hobart to beat the 369 Australia scored against Pakistan in 1999. Spinner Rangana Herath took five for 95 and seamer Chanaka Welegedara 3-89 as the Sri Lankan bowlers finally got some reward for their efforts after the Australian openers frustrated them for much of the morning. Their Australian counterparts made a more immediate impact as they looked to remove the last 10 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Shane Watson, taking on a bigger bowling burden after Sunday's injury to quick Ben Hilfenhaus, struck with his first ball to remove Dilshan, who made 147 in the first innings, caught behind for 11. Karunaratne had put 30 runs on the board when he was undone by a sizzling Mitchell Starc yorker. Jayawardene took 25 balls to get off the mark and Sangakkara had a big scare on three when Clarke, who had come out to field despite his injury, dropped the ICC cricketer of the year in the slips. The final wicket gave Herath 60 for 2012 to put him ahead of England's Graeme Swann in their personal battle to decide the most prolific wicket-taker of the year. — Reuters
