Australia gained the second Test in opposition to Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in Galle on Sunday to comb the sequence 2-0. Set a goal of 75 to win, Australia misplaced solely Travis Head as they romped to a commanding victory earlier than lunch on day 4. Steve Smith’s males had earlier on Sunday bundled Sri Lanka out for 231, after the hosts had resumed on 211-8 from in a single day. Sri Lanka’s resistance lasted simply 26 minutes, dropping Kusal Mendis for 50 and Lahiru Kumara for 9.
Spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann took 4 wickets every for Australia.
The duo spun an online across the hosts, making full use of a mud bowl tailored for flip.
Kuhnemann, taking part in simply his fifth Test, upstaged the seasoned Lyon, ending because the main wicket-taker of the sequence with 16.
The left-arm spinner bowled impeccable line and size, a efficiency much more exceptional on condition that he had damaged his proper thumb simply two weeks earlier than the primary Test.
Sri Lanka’s fragile batting meant their fortunes rested closely on Kusal Mendis, who had already performed a effective hand within the first innings with an unbeaten 85 runs.
In the second innings, he carried on the struggle, citing his half-century with a crisp punch via covers off Lyon.
However, the enjoyment was short-lived.
Off the following ball, Mendis was completed in by further bounce, top-edging an tried flick straight into the palms of Steve Smith.
The Australian skipper entered an elite membership, changing into solely the fifth participant in Test historical past to finish 200 catches — alongside Rahul Dravid, Joe Root, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis.
Australia celebrated a crushing victory within the first Test, with the innings and 242-run humiliation Sri Lanka’s worst defeat in Test historical past.
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