Agence France-Presse
Pallekele, July 30: Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath (5/54) backed up centurion Kusal Mendis’ superlative effort to stun top-ranked Australia by 106 runs in the rain-affected first Test here Saturday. Australia chasing a victory target of 268 runs were bundled out for 161 on the fifth and final day after lunch.
Australian skipper Steven Smith (55, 125b, 1×4) posted a gritty half century before Steve O’Keefe (4, 98b, 1×4) and Peter Nevill (9, 130b, 1×4) frustrated Sri Lanka with a 178-ball partnership.
Herath bagged the last Australian wicket to fall by cleaning up O’Keefe to trigger wild celebrations in the Lankan camp. This was Sri Lanka’s only second Test win against Australia in 27 matches, the first having come 17 years ago.
It was batsman Mendis (176) who set up the unlikely win for Sri Lanka with his superb maiden ton in his team’s second innings after the hosts overcame an 86-run first innings deficit.
“Special knock by a special young player. Fantastic effort. He (Mendis) is a real good find for us,” an elated Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews said at the post-match presentation.
For Lankan spinners it was a race against time as rain threatened to thwart their chances of upsetting firm favourites Australia but Herath had other ideas in mind.
The left-arm spinner, who grabbed four wickets in the first innings, made life miserable for the Australian batsmen on a turning track on the fifth morning.
Smith, whose 55 was the next best after Mendis’ century, was trapped LBW by Herath as Australia slipped to 141 for seven at lunch. Before that he had dismissed Adam Voges (12) and Mitch Marsh (25).
Debutant chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan (3/49) provided the perfect foil to Herath’s experience. “The old man Herath was brilliant once again. Sandakan is also a promising talent. We knew that the wicket was going to take turn and Sandakan responded brilliantly,” said Mathews.
