Australia is edging towards a 2-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka after Alex Carey's breathtaking century propelled the visitors into a formidable position in the second test.

Steve Smith and Alex Carey powered Australia to a formidable 414 all out Saturday in their first innings of the second test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Dimuth Karunaratne strode to the crease to start his 100th and last test match after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat against Australia.

Australia put on a clinical display on the third day of the second test against Sri Lanka, leaving the hosts teetering at 211-8 and holding a slender lead of just 54 runs. The visitors will try to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings early on the fourth morning and chase down the target in a bid to complete a 2-0 series sweep.

Fresh off a double hundred in the first test, Usman Khawaja has once again underlined why he is Australia's finest batsman in Asian conditions as he led the tourists past an early wobble to reach 85-2 at lunch on Day 2 of the second test against Sri Lanka.

Former Sri Lanka test skipper Dimuth Karunaratne will retire from the format after his 100th match, the final test of Sri Lanka's two-test series against Australia in Galle on Thursday.

Dinesh Chandimal has scored an unbeaten 63 as Sri Lanka struggled to 136-5 at lunch on Day 3 in reply to Australia's imposing first innings of 654 in the first cricket test.

Sri Lanka produced a vastly improved batting display in the second cricket test against Australia on Thursday, reaching 87 for one at lunch on the