AUSTRALIA'S hopes of holding on for a draw in the first Test against Sri Lanka were looking very doubtful at the lunch break yesterday at 7-141 chasing 268 for victory. 
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath (3-49) claimed three of the four wickets to fall in the first session at Pallekele Stadium, while the other successful bowler was left-arm wrist-spinner Lakshan Sandakan.
Australia lost 4-58 in the session, including 3-2 off 18 balls, after resuming on 3-83.
However ground staff placed covers on the pitch and outfield during the lunch break as rain fell. Afternoon storms were forecast, plus the bad-light issues that have persisted.
Both camps had identified the fourth-wicket partnership between Steve Smith and Adam Voges as crucial to the match's result.
Voges shook his head in anger after losing his wicket in the eighth over of the day.
The right-hander clipped a return catch to Herath, but the Sri Lankans offered only lukewarm appeals. A video review by the third umpire found it was not a bump-ball off the bat and Herath had scooped the ball up cleanly.Mitchell Marsh (25) was unable to build on a start.