Nightwatchman Jason Gillespie scored his maiden Test century to put Australia well in command of the second Test against Bangladesh on Tuesday, before heavy rain ended play during the third day tea interval.
Australia reached the break on 364 for three with paceman Gillespie (102) and Mike Hussey (93) the not out batsmen after the pair extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 154 runs.
The tourists, who won the first of the two-match series by three wickets last week, stretched their lead to 167 after dismissing the home side for 197 on the opening day of the match.
Australia would have been hoping to put the match completely out of Bangladesh's reach in the evening session, but persistent and heavy downpours forced the umpires to abandon play for the day before a ball could be bowled after tea.
Gillespie faced 300 balls hitting 17 boundaries to register his highest Test score, eclipsing his 54 not out against New Zealand in November 2004.
One day before his 31st birthday, Gillespie batted with supreme confidence and capitalised on two missed chances by the hosts to reach three figures.
Mohammad Rafique, who removed the openers, was unlucky not to claim a third scalp when Gillespie was dropped by keeper Khaled Mashud on 44.
He was spilt a second time on 60 by Abdur Razzak at gully off the bowling of paceman Shahadat Hossain.
Resuming on their overnight score of 151-2, Gillespie and Ricky Ponting continued to bat solidly as their third-wicket partnership reached 90, before the skipper was run out on 52 from a direct hit by Abdur Razzak, fielding at gully.
On Monday, Phil Jaques also scored a half-century for the visitors, the opener reaching his highest Test score of 66 before he was caught by Shahriar Nafees off the bowling of Rafique.
The spinner had also removed opener Matthew Hayden for 29 on Sunday.
Scorecard
Bangladesh 1st innings 197 (R. Saleh 71)
Australia 1st innings (Overnight: 151-2)
M. Hayden c sub b Rafique 29
P. Jaques c Nafees b Rafique 66
J. Gillespie not out 102
R. Ponting run out 52
M. Hussey not out 93
Extras (b-6 lb-10 nb-2 w-4) 22
Total (for 3 wickets, 111 overs) 364
Fall of wickets: 1-67 2-120 3-210
To bat: M. Clarke, A. Gilchrist, S. Warne, B. Lee, D. Cullen, S. MacGill
Bowling: M. Mortaza 18 - 3 - 62 - 0 (nb-2 w-1), S. Hossain 26 - 3 - 107 - 0 (w-3), M. Rafique 34 - 10 - 79 - 2, A. Razzak 27 - 5 - 81 - 0, R. Saleh 3 - 0 - 12 - 0, A. Ahmed 3 - 1 - 7 - 0
