Warner, Cowan out after strong start on day 4, Australia 146-2 at lunch vs Sri Lanka

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOBART, Australia — Australia openers David Warner and Ed Cowan hit half centuries Monday to give the home side a solid start to the fourth day before Sri Lanka hit back with two quick wickets at lunch in the first test Monday.

Australia resumed its second innings on 27-0 and Warner set about stretching a 141-run lead with the expansive stroke play that established his reputation in limited-overs cricket.

Australia was cruising at 132-0 before Rangana Herath ended Warner’s entertaining knock at 68 and Cowan was bowled for 56 by Chanaka Welegedara.

Phil Hughes (9) and Shane Watson (2) negotiated the remaining 4.2 overs to take Australia to 146-2 at lunch and a lead of 260 runs.

With eight wickets left and Sri Lanka set to bat again on a deteriorating pitch, Australia retains the edge at Bellerive Oval but the visiting bowlers were starting to extract more movement.

Warner and Cowan shared their second century stand together with Warner, who scored 57 in the first innings, hitting five fours and a huge six over long on.

Warner’s pursuit of runs — to set up a possible second declaration of the match by captain Michael Clarke following Australia’s first-innings 450-5 — was illustrated by the right-hander’s spectacular switch-hit to the midwicket boundary off Herath.

The spinner fooled Warner soon after with a ball that slipped out the front of his hand and nicked the bat as it rolled straight through to Prasanna Jayawardene behind the stumps. The score went from 1-132 to 2-140 when Cowan was bowled via an inside edge by Welegedara.

21:21ET 16-12-12