Australia bowled out for 414; Jayasuriya selects five

Sri Lanka’s spinners secured a damage control session the third morning in the second test against Australia in Galle. Prabath Jayasuriya (5-151) struck to a fifth, while Nishan Peiris (3-94) and Ramesh Mendis (2-81) also made the hard yards to keep Sri Lanka’s battle going, but Australia has continued to be in Responsibility for the game. After resuming 330/3, they were bowled out for 414 with a strong first-in-in-157.

The day began with Smith and Carey threatened to further swell Australia’s position in the game, but the partnership was broken in the first hour. Jayasuriya broke the 259-race stand when he had Smith, nodding for a cracking delivery that just turned a little to find the edge through to the keeper. The left arm spinner hit again at the same time when Josh Inglis incorrectly assessed the length of an armball and was cleaned. Jayasuriya’s accuracy was further rewarded as he ended Carey’s resistance when Sri Lanka tiled away at wickets.

Peiris, the most disciplined of Sri Lanka’s spinners on the second day, then took out debutant Cooper Connolly who fell to a rash beat-sweep when Australia tried to add fast runs. A deserving fifth came for Jayasuriya when Mitchell Starc missed a wild beat -fej to be thrown. Mendis then joined the Wicket-Tag ACT by polishing the last two Australian wickets at lunch. Beau Webster (31) added some practical runs down the order, and it helped Australia cross the 400-race mark.

Compared to the second day, Australia’s scoring speed was slower as they succeeded only 84 races in 26.4 overs this morning and lost five wickets. Wicket begins to deteriorate steadily, which means that the lead of 157 is a much greater advantage effective for visitors.

Short score: Sri Lanka 257 (Kusal Mendis 85*, Dinesh Chandimal 74; Mitchell Starc 3-37, Matthew Kuhnemann 3-63) Trail Australia 414 (Alex Carey 156. Steve Smith 131; Prabath Jaayasuriya 5-151) With 157 Run