Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal: Patience paid off

Dinesh Chandimal says a change of approach, and additional patience, were key to his match-turning century against Australia.

Chandimal was at the crease on day one when Sri Lanka were reduced to 26-5, but he and Dhananjaya de Silva put on 211 runs for the sixth wicket to leave the hosts in command in Colombo.

The wicketkeeper-batsman was eventually out for 132 on day two as Sri Lanka were all out for 355, though Australia's fightback was impressive as Shaun Marsh and Steve Smith's 120-run union left the tourists on 141-1 at stumps.

After scores of 15, 42, 5 and 13 in the series prior to the third Test, Chandimal was ecstatic to get back into form.

"It was a tough time before I went to bat... I learnt a lot of things from those last four innings in the first and second game," said the 26-year-old.

"I tried to face more balls rather than play shots. Finally I succeeded.

"All their bowlers bowled well, that is why they are number one. Credit goes to them, they bowled in the right areas, especially on this kind of pitch."