Australia dominated proceedings on the opening day of the second Check towards Sri Lanka in Galle because the hosts slid to 229-9.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took the primary three wickets of the innings, together with that of opener Dimuth Karunaratne, who’s playing in his 100th and final Test and was bowled for 36.
Dinesh Chandimal battled to 74 from 163 deliveries earlier than he was stumped by Alex Carey off the bowling of left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann to go away Sri Lanka 150-6.
Namesakes Kusal and Ramesh Mendis added 65 for the seventh wicket, earlier than Mitchell Starc had the latter caught behind for 28.
Starc then eliminated Prabath Jayasuriya with the next supply, and Kuhnemann bowled Nishan Peiris a number of overs earlier than the shut.
Kusal Mendis sits unbeaten on 59 in a single day, with Australia needing one wicket to wrap up the innings.
The guests gained the primary match of the two-game sequence by a record innings and 242 runs.
They handed a Check debut to 21-year-old all-rounder Cooper Connolly, with the Western Australian going for 0-12 in his three overs.
