After being set a seemingly impossible 507 to win the Test and end Australia's run of 13 consecutive Test match wins and level the series at 1-1, Sri Lanka enjoyed its best day of the series in finishing at 3-247 at stumps with Sangakkara making a superb 109 not out.
Suddenly Sri Lanka requires only another 260 runs off a minimum of 98 overs on the final day - at a run rate of only 2.65 per over - to pull off a famous win.
Day 3 highlights :
And considering they scored at well over three runs an over on day four, that target appears well within reach.
But Sangakkara, the number four ranked batsman in the world whose return after missing the first Test in Brisbane through injury has galvanised Sri Lanka, says the only way his team can attempt the run chase on day five is by not losing early wickets.
"We are still in it with a fight, we will see how the first session goes tomorrow," he said.
"If we can fight through that without losing a wicket then the day will look a lot better."
"We have got to be realistic of the fact that 507 is a massive ask but the direction in which we go tomorrow is up to us."
"If we can get through to lunch without losing a wicket, depending on the amount of runs we get, then things will become much clearer."
Sangakkara has made a spectacular return in this game, after missing the first Test with an injured hamstring, having also made 57 in the first innings and says his form is improving the longer the game progresses.
"In this innings I was more fluent than the first innings," he said.
"I was scratching around a bit in the first innings but I was still pretty disappointed I threw it away on 57 because that is a pretty good start to get and not go on with it."
"I really don't want to say what will happen tomorrow but we will go in with a lot of belief and try our best so that's all we can do tomorrow as well."
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