Australia close on victory

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Australia needed another eight wickets to seal a win on the final day of the first Test with Sri Lanka in Hobart.

The tourists face a battle to force a draw as they closed on 65 for two after being set a victory target of 393 on day four, with veteran pair Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene having to keep Australia at bay in the last hour.

Any chance of a Sri Lanka victory was slim when their opponents were all out for 278 to herald tea. David Warner top-scored with 68 while opening partner Ed Cowan and captain Michael Clarke also contributed half-centuries.

They might have extended that advantage had Clarke been able to come back out following the dismissal of the also-ailing Ben Hilfenhaus, but Mike Hussey soon got the signal to follow Hilfenhaus off with Clarke unable to resume.

Captain Michael Clarke experiences discomfort in the field, having retired hurt on 57 due to a hamstring injury as Australia went for victory

He had earlier retired hurt on 57 - breaking a potentially key partnership with Hussey - due to a hamstring injury, although the 31-year-old was able to field.

Together, he and Hussey had been able to stop the rot after Sri Lanka claimed quick wickets early in the afternoon session, having made a long-awaited breakthrough before lunch.

The morning had been dominated by Australia openers Warner and Cowan, who took their overnight 27 without loss on to 132 before the former - who had played some fine attacking shots to make 68 - toe-ended a Rangana Herath carrom ball behind.

Soon after, Cowan was bowled for 56 by a Chanaka Welegedara delivery that cut in to sneak between bat and pad.

Following lunch Prasanna Jayawardene stumped Shane Watson off Herath when the batsman's back leg slid out of the crease, and soon after Phil Hughes was bowled between bat and pad by Shaminda Eranga.

Australia were wobbling at 181 for five when Matthew Wade was caught at long-on off Herath, but Clarke and Hussey steadied the ship until the skipper had to retire hurt.

Although Hussey immediately smashed a six, Australia's resistance would soon waver with the tail exposed.

Peter Siddle was caught behind off Welegedara and, in the same over, Mitchell Starc went lbw.

Nathan Lyon was bowled by Herath, who claimed 5-96 when Hilfenhaus - battling a side injury - was trapped in front for a duck to leave Hussey stranded on 31.

In reply, first-innings centurion Tillakaratne Dilshan edged first-change Watson’s opening ball behind to wicketkeeper Wade.

Sangakkara was given a life when he was dropped by Clarke at slip off Lyon, but Dimuth Karunaratne was soon out for 30 after being cleaned up by a superb yorker from Starc.

That left Sangakkara and Jayawardene, so often Sri Lanka’s saviours, to dig in for the final 13 overs of the day. Sangakkara made 18 from 88 balls while captain Jayawardene was equally watchful with just five from 37 deliveries.