Sri Lanka took three late wickets as they tightened the screws on Australia in the second Test in Galle yesterday after setting the tourists a daunting target of 413 to save the series.
At the end of an action-packed second day, which saw 21 wickets tumble and a hat-trick from Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath, Australia were 25-3 in their second innings, still 388 runs short of an unlikely win.
David Warner was unbeaten on 22 and skipper Steve Smith was on 1, with the tourists to resume today facing an uphill struggle to avoid an embarrassing loss within three days at the Galle International Stadium.
Photo: AFP
Although Mitchell Starc took six wickets as Australia restricted Sri Lanka to 237 in their second innings, the tourists were undone in the first session of the day when they were skittled for 106.
It was their lowest total in 28 Tests against Sri Lanka, who are on a high after winning last week’s first Test in Pallekele. Victory in Galle would ensure Sri Lanka win the three-match series with a game to play.
The 38-year-old Herath was the star performer after picking up only the second Test hat-trick by a Sri Lankan.
Australia, who resumed at their overnight score of 54-2, struggled throughout the morning session against both Herath and fellow spin bowler Dilruwan Perera, the duo sharing eight wickets between them.
Perera bowled overnight batsman Usman Khawaja in his second over of the day before Herath took his first wicket by clean bowling Smith.
It was Herath’s seventh over of the innings that proved decisive.
He dismissed Adam Voges, Peter Nevill and Starc off consecutive deliveries to put Australia on the mat.
Only Mitchell Marsh, who was the last man out for 27, offered much resistance for Australian during the morning’s play.
The visitors also struck early in the Sri Lanka second innings as paceman Starc bowled his heart out on a flat pitch, taking 6-50.
Perera top-scored for Sri Lanka with 64 and he received good support from skipper Angelo Mathews, who followed up his half-century in the first innings with 47.
Australia’s response got off to a dreadful start when Joe Burns became Herath’s fifth victim of the day in the opening over of Australia’s second innings.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was bowled for a duck before Khawaja followed him back to the pavilion one ball later.
ENGLAND, PAKISTAN
Reuters
A battling innings from Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq checked England’s bowlers on the third morning of the third Test at Edgbaston as the tourists edged to a valuable first-innings lead, before he was dismissed in the second session.
Alastair Cook’s England claimed an early wicket in the morning’s eighth over when Younus Khan played a rash shot to a leg-side delivery from Chris Woakes, edging the ball to keeper Jonny Bairstow for 31.
England stuck again with Pakistan still trailing when Stuart Broad comprehensively bowled Asad Shafiq for an 18-ball duck.
James Anderson had Misbah-ul-Haq out bowled for 56 and at press time last night, Pakistan were 368-8, a lead of 71 runs.
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