Dilshan leads Sri Lanka fightback in Hobart Test

Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan scored his 15th Test century before rain forced an early lunch in the first Test against Australia in Hobart on Sunday. Dilshan and prospective Test skipper Angelo Mathews restored Sri Lanka's innings with an unbeaten hundred partnership as rain sent players from the field 30 minutes before the scheduled break on the third day. Sri Lanka were 187 for four in reply to Australia's 450-5 declared with Dilshan unbeaten on 103 and Mathews on 45. Dilshan cut Peter Siddle for a boundary to bring up his ton off 148 balls with 16 fours just before a rain squall lashed the Bellerive Oval. The pair put on an unbroken stand of 100 for the fifth wicket to stabilise the innings after the tourists resumed at 87 for four with experienced batsmen Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera dismissed on Saturday. Team vice-captain Mathews is expected to take over as Sri Lanka skipper after Jayawardene announced before the Hobart Test that he would be stepping down as captain after the Australia tour. Australia lost another fast bowler when Ben Hilfenhaus left the field in the opening hour, with the Tasmanian swing bowler departing after delivering just two balls of his 13th over. Team officials said he had a left side strain and was taken to hospital for scans. Hilfenhaus had figures of 1-30 after claiming the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne for 14 on Saturday. Australia's fast bowling stocks are already depleted with James Pattinson (side), Patrick Cummins (back) and Josh Hazlewood (foot) all out of action.