PALLEKELE: Kusal Mendis' maiden test hundred pulled Sri Lanka out of trouble as they reached 282 for six when bad light brought an early close to the third day of the first test against Australia.

Mendis was 169 not out at the close off 243 deliveries. He batted for five hours and hit 20 boundaries and a six against off spinner Nathan Lyon to bring up his century.

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Batting at No. 4, he shared 117 runs for the fifth wicket with Dinesh Chandimal (42) after Sri Lanka had slumped to 86 for four.

Mendis withstood the opening spell and dominated two promising partnerships, 39 runs for the third wicket with Kaushal Silva (7) and 45 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Angelo Mathews on his way to become the youngest Sri Lankan to score a test century against Australia.

Silva was trapped lbw, again after an unsuccessful review, by O'Keefe.

And Mathews' unconvincing innings ended when he was caught bat-pad by Joe Burns off Lyon for nine.

Sri Lanka scored 117 in its first innings and Australia made 203.