Australia took early charge of the second Test against Sri Lanka
after bowling out the home side for a hugely disappointing 174 soon
after tea on the opening day in Pallekele on Thursday.
 Fast bowler Ryan Harris led the way with three wickets and Trent Copeland, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon picked up two each in good batting conditions. © AFP |
Australia, hoping to clinch the three-match series after winning the
first Test in Galle by 125 runs, raced to 60 for no loss before bad
light ended play 5.2 overs early.
Shane Watson returned unbeaten on 36 with six boundaries and Phillip Hughes was on a watchful 23 at stumps.
The hosts, electing to bat after winning the toss, never recovered
after they lost half the side for 76 by lunch, the top three falling by
the eighth over with the score at just 14.
Vice-captain Angelo Mathews cracked three sixes and six boundaries in
an aggressive 58 to boost the total, but seven batsmen failed to reach
double figures.
Former captain Kumar Sangakkara chipped in with 48, adding 43 for the
fourth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera and 52 for the sixth with
Mathews.
The elegant left-hander looked set for a major knock when he lost his
wicket to part-time bowler Mike Hussey, whose slow-medium delivery was
driven to Hughes at short-cover.
It was only the third wicket in 61 Tests for Hussey and compounded
Sri Lanka's woes on a wicket that had rolled out well in favour of the
batsmen.
Hussey also picked up a brilliant diving catch at gully to remove
star batsman Mahela Jayawardene, who had hit a century in Galle.
"It's pretty special that I had a hand in the dismissal of their two main batsmen," said a delighted Hussey.
"I could not believe it when Michael (Clarke) got me on to bowl. And I
was pretty shocked when Sangakkara got out. But it was a valuable
wicket to take because he is a very good batsman."
Opener Tharanga Paranavitana fell for his second successive duck and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan was bowled for four.
Sri Lanka could have lost Sangakkara cheaply, but Shane Watson
spilled a catch at first slip off Johnson when the batsman was on 27.
 Australia raced to 60 for no loss before bad light ended play 5.2 overs early. AFP PHOTO/Ishara S. KODIKARA © AFP |
Samaraweera was dismissed 20 minutes before lunch, caught behind off
Harris for 18, while Prasanna Jayawardene threw away his wicket just
before the break.
The Sri Lankan wicket-keeper smashed off-spinner Lyon for a six and
four, but holed out in the deep off the last ball of the over.
Dilshan lashed out at his batsmen, saying they needed to make significant contributions if Sri Lanka were to level the series.
"The Australians bowled well, but we had no business to get out so
cheaply," he said. "It is always difficult to come back into the match
after making so few runs.
"The batsmen must start delivering. We just can't afford to get out like this all the time."
The hosts had been dismissed for 105 and 253 in the first Test with a
century from Mahela Jayawardene and 95 from Mathews being the only
major contributions.
Australia made one change from the side that won the first Test,
bringing in debutant Shaun Marsh for former captain Ricky Ponting, who
has returned home for the birth of his second child.
The left-hander received his baggy green Australian cap before the
start of play from his father, Geoff Marsh, a former opening batsman who
played 50 Tests and 117 one-dayers before retiring in 1992.
Sri Lanka included leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna for his maiden Test
match after both Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis were ruled out with
injuries.
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