PALLEKELE - Michael Hussey hit a 14th Test century and debutant Shaun Marsh his maiden ton before rain halted Australia's progress in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday. The two left-handers put on 258 for the fourth wicket as the tourists moved to 411-7 in their first innings by stumps on the third day, a lead of 237 runs with three wickets in hand. Marsh made 141 and Hussey scored 142, his second big knock in the series after a match-winning 95 in the first Test in Galle last week. Just 40.3 overs were bowled in the day as heavy rain washed out play soon after lunch at the Pallekele International Stadium. With more rain forecast over the remaining two days, Australian captain Michael Clarke may be forced to make an early declaration to bid for a series-clinching victory. Hussey and Marsh, who resumed at 264-3, stayed together till 10 minutes before lunch when Hussey holed out to the cover fence against part-time spinner Thilan Samaraweera. Their partnership was the highest ever against Sri Lanka for the fourth wicket, surpassing the 256 by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly for India in Mumbai in 1997. The pair had joined forces on Friday morning when Sri Lanka grabbed three quick wickets to reduce Australia to 116-3 in reply to their own 174. Both Marsh and Hussey reached their respective centuries in the same over from off-spinner Suraj Randiv 45 minutes after the start of play. Hussey, who was on 76 overnight to Marsh's 87, outscored his partner and achieved his third hundred against Sri Lanka with an on-drive for two-run. Marsh moved to 98 by driving seamer Chanaka Welegedara through the covers for a four and then reached 100 by flicking Randiv to mid-wicket for two. Former Australian opener Geoff Marsh applauded warmly from the stands as his 28-year-old son jumped in the air with a raised bat to celebrate the landmark. ScoreCard Sri Lanka 1st innings: 174 Australia 1st innings (O/N 264-3): S. Watson b Lakmal 36 P Hughes c Paranavitana b Randiv 36 S Marsh c Sangakkara b Lakmal 141 M Clarke c M. Jayawardene b Welegedara 13 M Hussey c Sangakkara b Samaraweera 142 Usman Khawaja not out 13 B Haddin c Sangakkara b Randiv 1 M Johnson b Randiv 0 R Harris not out 9 Extras: (lb9, nb10, w1) 20 Total: (for seven wickets, 132 overs) 411 To bat: Trent Copeland, Nathan Lyon. FOW: 1-60, 2-95, 3-116, 4-374, 5-391, 6-392, 7-392. Bowling: Welegedara 23-2-74-1 (nb3, w1), Lakmal 23-2-102-2 (nb7), Prasanna 23-3-80-0, Dilshan 14-4-32-0, Randiv 43-7-103-3, Sangakkara 2-0-4-0, Samaraweera 4-0-7-1 Australia lead by 237 runs with three wickets in hand Toss: Sri Lanka Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Tony Hill (NZL) TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)