Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan edged nearer Courtney Walsh's 519 Test-wicket world record on Friday.

Warne took two wickets for 115 in 36 overs to move to 513, two ahead of his Sri Lankan spin rival who grabbed a single Australian scalp late on.

The battle formed an intriguing sub-plot to a well-contested third day of the third Test between the two countries in a three-match series which the Australians have already clinched.

Sri Lanka skipper Hashan Tillakaratne hit a battling, unbeaten 74 to steer his team, who started on 239 for two, to a slim, six-run first innings lead.

They were bowled out for 407 in 121.1 overs shortly after tea and left-armer Chaminda Vaas then broke through, trapping Matthew Hayden leg before wicket for 28, to end a 40-run opening stand with Justin Langer.

Australia closed the day on 80 for three from 23.2 overs with a 74-run lead, Langer finishing on 29 not out.

Langer was earlier reported by the umpires for bringing the game into disrepute after dislodging a bail with his hand during Tillakaratne's innings.

Tillakaratne, under pressure after a batting slump and losing record as captain, came to Sri Lanka's rescue after the loss of three early wickets in the morning.

The 36-year-old, dropped on 33 by Ricky Ponting at slip, added 71 for the sixth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (41) and 51 with Vaas (24) for the seventh wicket.

The 201-ball four-hour knock, which included 10 boundaries, was his first Test half-century in 13 innings.

He said: "We all know that I had a lean period but after this knock I should be able to get more runs. If I am not scoring I don't want to be a liability to the team."

Jason Gillespie conceded a run-a-ball during two wayward spells on Thursday but bounced back on the third morning with two wickets in his first over and another after lunch to finish with three for 96 from 23 overs.

Darren Lehmann followed his 153 run in the first innings with three for 50 from 19 overs with his slow left-arm spin.

Marvan Atapattu, 109 not out overnight, ended on 118 from 219 balls having hit 19 boundaries before being bowled by Michael Kasprowicz.

Australia lead 2-0 in the series after wins in Galle and Kandy.

Scoreboard:

Australia first innings 401 (D.Lehmann 153, R.Ponting 92; M.Muralitharan 5-123)

Sri Lanka first innings (overnight 239-2)
M.Atapattu b Kasprowicz 118
S.Jayasuriya c Gillespie b Lehmann 71
K.Sangakkara c Gilchrist b Lehmann 22
M.Jayawardene c Gilchrist b Gillespie 29
T.Dilshan b Gillespie 0
H.Tillakaratne not out 74
T.Samaraweera c Gilchrist b Gillespie 41
C.Vaas b Warne 24
N.Zoysa st Gilchrist b Lehmann 3
R.Herath c Martyn b Warne 3
M.Muralitharan c Warne b Kasprowicz 8

Extras (b-4 lb-7 nb-2 w-1) 14

Total (all out, 127.1 overs) 407

Fall of wickets: 1-134 2-175 3-240 4-240 5-256 6-327 7-378 8-381 9-390 10-407

Bowling: Gillespie 23-4-96-3, Kasprowicz 22.1-5-58-2 (1-nb 1-w), Williams 19-5-48-0 (1-nb), Warne 36-7-115-2, Lehmann 19-2-50-3, Katich 8-0-29-0.

Australia second innings
J.Langer not out 29
M.Hayden lbw b Vaas 28
R.Ponting c Samaraweera b Herath 20
J.Gillespie c Jayawardene b Muralitharan 1

Extras (nb-2) 2

Total (for three wickets, 23.2 overs) 80

To bat: D.Martyn, D.Lehmann, S.Katich, A.Gilchrist, S.Warne, M.Kasprowicz, B.Williams

Fall of wickets: 1-40 2-79 3-80

Bowling: Vaas 9-2-22-1, Zoysa 5-0-24-0 (1-nb), Muralitharan 4.2-0-21-1, Herath 3-0-5-1, Samaraweera 2-0-8-0 (1-nb).