Australia quick Brett Lee dismissed openers Marvan Atapattu and Michael Vandort, reducing Sri Lanka to 2 for 54 early on day three of the second Test at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.
Lee removed Vandort's middle pole in just the sixth over of the day and four overs later had Atapattu swiping at a searing, swinging delivery which zoomed to gully and was well taken by Michael Clarke at the second attempt.
Vandort made just 14 and Atapattu 25.
Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten on 9 with captain Mahela Jayawardene the new batsman.
Lee could quite easily have had the vital wicket of master batsman Sangakkara when he was on 4, but the third umpire gave him the benefit of the doubt when Michael Hussey could not be sure whether he took a low, diving catch at gully.
To keep up-to-date, visit our live scorecard.
Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said after play yesterday that he is confident Australia has enough time to wrap up a 2-0 series win.
Gilchrist said there is ample time for Australia to bowl out the Sri Lankans twice.
"Yeah definitely, three days, we've lost time today but we'll make up time over the course of the game hopefully," he said.
"It looks like the forecast is quite encouraging, so that does allow us enough time, things can happen quickly in this game."
Gilchrist says with the Bellerive pitch suiting the batsman, his side will have to work hard.
"We're going to have to execute really well, we're going to have to do everything we've spoken about and the things that worked well in Brisbane, we're going to have to replicate that," he said.
