GALLE: Nathan Lyon and Travis Head wreaked havoc on the Sri Lankan batting line to wrap up the rain-hit first Test within the three days as Australia crushed the hosts by 10 wickets, here on Friday.
Sri Lanka showcased a dismal batting performance in the second inning after trailing by a deficit of 109 runs. The hosts hardly managed to avoid an innings defeat, amid the complete collapse of the batting order.
Australian bowlers completely dismantled the Sri Lankan batting as the team was bowled out on 113 with the last six wickets falling in quick succession and added just 18 runs to the total. Only four Sri Lankan batters managed to step into double figures with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne topping the scorecard with 23 runs.
Lyon and Head starred with the bowl to force this Sri Lankan collapse by bagging four wickets each. Meanwhile leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson also grabbed two wickets.
After being put to bat the second time for chasing a meager target of 5 runs, the tourists utilized only four balls with Usman Khuwaja hitting a six and a four to culminate the Australian dominance in style.
Earlier, Australia started the processing of Day 3 by resuming their first inning with an overnight score of 313/8 and managed to add only 8 runs before being bowled out on 321. Left-handed opener Usman Khawaja and all-rounder Cameron Green scored half-centuries on the rain-hit second day to tighten the grip of their side on the first Test.
Australia have now secured a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka with the second Test scheduled from July 8 to 12 at the same venue.
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