Perth, December 16:

Adam Gilchrist posted the second-fastest century in Test history, eclipsing centuries by Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke, as Australia and oppressive heat melted England’s Ashes hopes on the third day of the third Test on Saturday.

Gilchrist reached his 17th century in Tests from 57 balls with 12 fours and four sixes, failing by only one ball to match Viv Richards’ 56-ball century scored 20 years ago.

His century was the fastest in Test cricket by an Australian batsman, surpassing Jack Gregory’s record of 67-ball hundred.

Gilchrist gave Australia’s innings a crazy impetus which allowed it to declare their second innings at 527 for five with an overall lead of 556 runs.

England’s task of surviving for two days seemed hopeless by stumps when opener Andrew Strauss fell in the fourth ball. England were 19/1 at the close.

Clarke was left 135 not out when Australian skipper Ricky Ponting made his bold declaration. Hussey made 103, Matthew Hayden scored 92 and Ponting contributed 75.

Lankans on top

Wellington: Test newcomer Chamara Silva made an unbeaten half century to magnify damage caused by his bowlers and to give Sri Lanka a 363-run lead over New Zealand on the second day of the second Test on Saturday.

Playing in only his second Test match, Silva reached 79 not out to guide Sri Lanka to 225/5 in a productive second innings.

They reached that total, and a position of control, after Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan combined to wreck New Zealand’s first innings, bowling the home side out for 130 in reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings of 268.

Malinga took 5-68, while Muralitharan claimed 4-31. The pair sent New Zealand tumbling from 66 for four overnight to 130 all out. Only wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum managed to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers for any length of time with 43.

Silva put on 68 for the fifth wicket with his captain Mahela Jayawardene, who made 31, and he had added 57 in an unbroken sixth-wicket stand with Prasanna Jayawardene, who was 22 not out. — AP