Australia's batsmen were left cursing their inability to post a big score, but their team still appeared to have the upper hand in the first Test after an eventful second day against Sri Lanka.
The tourists had built a lead of 86 by the time they were dismissed half an hour before tea, having resumed at 2-66 with skipper Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja seemingly set for a big partnership. But it wasn't to be, as the Sri Lankans - led by four wickets apiece from veteran left-arm finger-spinner Rangana Herath and debutant left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan - stormed back into the contest by claiming 4-80 before lunch.
Adam Voges was the calming hand of the middle order but he, too, would have been frustrated by his dismissal at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. 
For the first time in their past eight Tests, none of Australia's top four batsmen notched a first-innings half-century.
Along with Voges, all-rounder Mitch Marsh was also guilty of squandering a healthy start.
The hustling Sandakan was impressive. He likes to push the ball through, but also boasts a wrong-un that is hard to pick - as Marsh discovered. He shapes as a threat as the series progresses.
Paceman Josh Hazlewood said after play on Tuesday that first-innings runs would be precious, so Australia's handy lead could ultimately prove pivotal. But the pitch, while taking turn, had yet to show any signs of crumbling, giving hope to the batsmen.
Smith wanted his men to be positive early in their innings.
On Tuesday he had the right balance, but his decision the morning after to charge Herath on the first ball he faced from Sri Lanka's key weapon was one he would have regretted.
It was all the more disconcerting as he missed what proved to be a straight delivery. It was a waste of his good work helping to rebuild the innings after David Warner and Joe Burns fell early.
While Smith was a major breakthrough, the hosts knew they needed more to assert themselves.
Herath obliged when he ripped a delivery into the pads of Khawaja, who was crease-bound and didn't consider challenging the decision.
Suddenly under pressure, and with fieldsman around the bat, the challenge was before Marsh, averaging 23 in 15 Tests before this, and Voges.
Having been told by his captain to play his natural game, Marsh obliged, with his cover drive doing the most damage. He was prepared to take on Herath and paceman Nuwan Pradeep, with his first 12 runs flowing from boundaries.
Voges was initially happy to play a more sedate role as he and Marsh put on 50 off 97 balls. Soon after, when Marsh muscled a flighted delivery from off-spinner Dilruwan Perera through the covers, Australia had the lead.
It appeared the tourists would quickly build a strong lead, but an entertaining morning session was not done with.


Sri Lanka 1st innings 117
AUSTRALIA: 1st innings R M B 4s 6s
J Burns b Herath 3 14 15 0 0
D Warner b Pardeep 0 8 5 0 0
U Khawaja lbw Herath 26 82 62 4 0
S Smith st Chandimal b Herath 30 65 53 3 0
A Voges c Mendis b Pradeep 47 147 115 3 0
M Marsh b Sandakan 31 74 63 5 0
P Nevill c K Perera b Herath 2 9 11 0 0
S O'Keefe c Mendis b Sandakan 23 94 80 1 0
M Starc c K Perera b Sandakan 11 27 29 0 1
N Lyon lbw Sandakan 17 34 25 2 0
J Hazlewood not out 2 17 18 0 0
Sundries (4b, 7lb)11
TOTAL 203
FALL: 3 (Warner), 7 (Burns), 69 (Smith), 70 (Khawaja), 130 (Marsh), 137 (Nevill), 160 (Voges), 179 (Starc), 190 (O'Keefe), 203 (Lyon). BOWLING: N Pradeep 16-6-36-2, R Herath 25-8-49-4, D Perera 14-1-43-0, L Sandakan 21.2-3-58-4, A Mathews 3-1-6-0. BATTING TIME: 293 mins. OVERS: 79.2.
SRI LANKA: 2nd inningsR M B 4s 6s
K Perera lbw b Starc4 5 5 0 0
K Silva not out2 5 9 0 0
Sundries 0
TOTAL (for one wicket) 6
BOWLING: M Starc 1.2, 0, 1, J Hazlewood 11, 0, 30, 0. BATTING TIME: 5 mins. OVERS: 2.2