Senior batsman Angelo Mathews helped Sri Lanka rebuild after Kusal Mendis' early departure on day three of the second Test against Australia on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The hosts reached 262 for three at lunch, still trailing Australia, who lead the two-match series 1-0, by 102 runs in Galle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mathews, on 49, and Dinesh Chandimal, on 29, were batting at the break in an unbeaten stand of 76 on a pitch that's holding strong and witnessed a brief spell of morning rain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Spinner Nathan Lyon struck early in the day to send back Kusal trapped lbw for 85 after the hosts resumed on 184-2 in response to Australia's first innings total of 364.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The batsman just added one to his overnight score and wasted an umpire review after the tracking technology showed the ball would have hit the middle and leg stump.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mathews, who started the day on six, kept calm alongside Chandimal as the veteran pair handled the opposition spinners with assurance to rebuild the innings.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kusal and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne, who made 86, had led Sri Lanka's strong reply on day two when the duo put on 152 runs for the second wicket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Scores of fans turned up for the cricket on the third day, despite the host country facing fresh political unrest arising from its painful economic crisis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n