Sri Lanka’s lowly-rated pace attack had set themselves to claim six Australian wickets on day one of the first Test in Hobart but their influence faded late in the day as Michael Clarke’s men powered to a formidable start of 4-299.

However there were some highlights for the tourists as left-armer Chanaka Welegedara picked up 3-99 to bring up his half-century of wickets in his 19th Test.

One of them won’t be forgotten in a hurry after skipper Mahela Jayawardene lunged from second slip to the vacant third slip to pull down a one-handed screamer to dismiss Shane Watson (30) from the bowling of Welegedara.

“It was a very good catch and I’m very happy about it,” Welegedara said.

“I don’t think I’ve seen a better one.”

Australia’s Phil Hughes, who top-scored on day one with 86, described the catch as one of the best he’d seen.

“That’s up in the top few I reckon. That’s nearly as good as you get,” Hughes said.

On a slow-paced pitch, Clarke gambled on batting first and setting up the game with a solid first-innings total.

In a comical exchange, Welegedara was asked through an interpreter if his team were anxious to fight back on Friday after former Aussie Test quick Rodney Hogg blasted the Sri Lankan attack as the worst ever to tour Australia.

The interpreter eventually revealed: “He’s not aware of the Aussie critics.”

It was an up-and-down day for the 31-year-old Welegedara, who had Hughes caught behind for 77 off a no-ball.

“I was very disappointed at that time, because it’s hard to get a wicket here unless the batsmen makes a mistake, and that happened very rarely,” he said.

“After lunch I thought we would be able to do more, given the way the wicket was playing.

“I thought if we got about six wickets today, we would have a good chance in the Test.

“There was a bit of seam after lunch.

“They batted well today, but the day is over and he’ll have to start again tomorrow,” Welegedara said of Clarke, who will resume on 70.

“Our bowlers will be fresh in the morning and if we can get him out early, we can keep them to fewer than a 100 more runs.”