AFP
Colombo, August 17: Sri Lanka clinched their first series whitewash over a major cricketing nation Wednesday as they won the third and final Test against Australia by 163 runs here. Spinner Rangana Herath bagged a match figure of 13-145 including 6-81 and 7-64 in both the innings respectively.
Set a formidable target of 324 in their second innings, Australia collapsed in the afternoon session on the last day and were bundled out for 160. It was the third time in a row that the Australians had lost all of their Tests in away series against the sub-continent teams.
Openers David Warner (68, 6×4, 1×6) and Shaun Marsh (23, 1×4) gave Australia some hope of a consolation win with a brisk start but the visitors suffered a rapid collapse after Marsh’s departure.
Herath soon took over from his fellow spinner to dismiss Australian skipper Steve Smith (8, 1×4) and senior batsman Adam Voges (1) in the same over. Warner was Perera’s second big strike.
Herath then ran through the Australian middle and lower order as the visitors’ batsmen had no answer to his left-arm spin.
Earlier Sri Lanka declared their second innings on 347/8 with overnight batsman Dhananjaya de Silva (65 n o, 10×4) remained unbeaten.
Kaushal Silva’s (115, 10×4) gritty knock played a big part in Sri Lanka registering their first series sweep against a major side since gaining Test status in 1981.
Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc remained the standout performer for the visitors with his 24 wickets in the series including three five-wicket hauls.
The teams now head into the first of the five ODIs scheduled for August 21.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 355 and 347/8 decl (K Silva 115, D de Silva 65 n o; N Lyon 4/123) beat Australia 379 and 160 (D Warner 68; R Herath 7/64) by 163 runs.
