CRICKET/Second Test: Dogged Sri Lankan resistance and bad light denied Shane Warne the chance to become the leading wicket-taker in Test history as Australia completed a 1-0 series win amid dramatic scenes in Cairns yesterday.

Warne drew level with Muttiah Muralitharan's world-record total of 527 Test wickets but was unable to claim it outright after the Sri Lankan tail held out to earn a draw in the second Test.

Sri Lanka were on 183 for eight when the umpires took the teams off because of the fading light.

That meant Warne, who had taken seven wickets in the match, missed possibly his best chance to break Muralitharan's record.

Murali had opted to sit out the tour for personal reasons but should return to Test action in August when Sri Lanka host South Africa in two Tests.

The off-spinner has proved prolific on his home pitches, and with Australia not playing again until October, when they tour India, the record could by then be out of Warne's reach.

Warne moved on to 526 wickets when he removed the obdurate Kumar Sangakkara for 66 with a delivery that spun back through the batsman's defences and onto the stumps.

By now, the atmosphere at the picturesque Bundaberg Rum Stadium was nearing electric - and it was soon to climb another notch when Warne grabbed his final wicket, Upul Chandana given out stumped by Adam Gilchrist after reference to the third umpire.

That drew Warne level with Murali, and with the light closing in it became a race against time for the leg-spinner to take the record outright. But he could not breach the defences of tailenders Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa, who finished unbeaten on 11 and three respectively.

It was a bitter-sweet end to a Test Australia needed only to draw to seal a series win courtesy of their 149-run victory in the opening match. Captain Ricky Ponting said: "It was another great series. We've played some sensational Tests against Sri Lanka in the last few months."