AUSTRALIA WRAP UP SWEEP OVER SRI LANKA
Mitchell Starc claimed a superb matchbag of 10 wickets and steered Australia to a massive 366run win in the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Manuka Oval in Canberra yesterday. Australia completed their task with more than a day to spare and also wrapped-up the two-match series 2-0.
Starc was at his best as he captured five for 54 in Sri Lanka’s first innings and then followed it up with another five-wicket haul in the second innings to blow them away a second time.
Sri Lanka who were set a daunting victory target of 516 runs resumed the fourth day at 17 for no loss and were eventually bowled out for 149 runs in 51 overs with Starc and Pat Cummins (three for 15) causing the damage.
With the 13th ball of the day, Starc dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne for his overnight score of eight.
He also removed the Sri Lankan Captain Dinesh Chandimal (4) caught at third slip.
Lahiru Thirimanne looked solid at the other end but he was dismissed for 30.
Niroshan Dickwella played a typically counter-attacking knock but Starc got one delivery to stay low and cleaned him up for 27.
When he had Kusal Perera caught behind in the very next delivery, Sri Lanka were in real trouble and were struggling at 83 for five.
Jhye Richardson was also among the wickets as Sri Lanka collapsed to 97 for six at that stage.
However, Kusal Mendis and Chamika Karunaratne figured in a 46-run partnership to frustrate the home side to a brief period.
Manus Labushchagne ended the resistance with Mendis chipping a drive off him straight to cover for a hard-earned 42.
Chamika fell soon after, caught behind off Cummins.
Starc fittingly finished things off with a searing yorker to clean up Vishva Fernando.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Skipper Dinesh Chandimal believed his battered team can lift their game and be competitive on the upcoming tour to South Africa despite being outplayed by Australia.
“We are a young team and always learning how to play, especially in these tough conditions. We will bounce back in South Africa,” Chandimal said
“South Africa is similar to these conditions and with very good bowlers. We know that as a team we have to play in tough conditions and we need to adjust to those conditions and step up as a team.”
Asked to outline the positives Sri Lanka could take from the Australia series, Chandimal admitted there weren’t many.
“The only positive was our slip catching from our fast bowlers,” he said.
“I don’t want to talk about the negatives,” he added.
“We all know what went wrong as a team and I’m sure the boys will learn from that and they will come good in South Africa.”