Australia cleansweep Sri Lanka 2-0
Australia registered a convincing 336 runs win over Sri Lanka and they wrap up the series 2-0 at Canberra. Australian captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka.
Australia couldn’t get a good start as they expected. They lost 3 quick wickets for 28 runs. After that Travis Head joined with Joe Burns and they start to rebuild the Australian innings. However both these batsman added 308 runs for the 4th wicket. Travis Head scored 161 and Joe Burns was the top scorer with 180 runs. Also Kurtis Patterson (114) scored an unbeaten hundred as his maiden Test hundred. Those three hundreds helped Australia to pose a big total against Sri Lanka. Australia declared their first Innings 534 runs for lost of five wickets.
In reply that Sri Lanka manage to score 215 runs. Sri Lankan openers Dimuth Karunarathne and Lahiru Thirimanne gave them a solid start. After thet Sri Lankan middle order collapsed as usual. No one able to build a good partnership. Dimuth Karunarathne was the top scorer with 59 runs. Dimuth karunarathne and Kusal Perera was injured with the bouncers. While in the bowling department Mitchell Starc claimed 5 wickets for 54 runs.
Australia started their second innings with 319 runs lead. Sri Lankan bowlers took 3 wickets for 37 once again. But experienced Usman Khawaja and inform Travis Head made an unbeaten 159 runs partnership for the 4th wicket. Usman khawaja scored 101 runs not out. Australia declared their second innings 196 runs for lost of 3 wickets and set 515 runs target for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka required 516 runs to win the 2nd Test. But Sri Lanka bowled out for 149. Sri Lanka never really got going and lost wickets at regular intervals. Kusal Mendis was the top scorer with 42 runs. Once again Mitchell Starc bowled brilliantly in the Sri Lanka’s 2nd Innings and took 5 wickets for 46 runs.
Match Summary – Sri Lanka vs Australia : 2nd Test
Australia won by 366 runs
Australia 1st Innings –534/5d (132)
Joe Burns – 180(260) | Travis Head – 161(204) | Vishwa Fernando – 3/126
Sri Lanka 1st Innings –215 (68.3)
Dimuth Karunarathne – 59(95 ) | Lahiru Thirimanne – 41(105 ) |Mitchell Starc – 5/54
Australia 2nd Innings -196/3d (47)
Usman khawaja – 101(136) | Travis Head – 59(95) |Kasun Rajitha – 2/64
Sri Lanka 2nd Innings – 149 (51)
Kusal Mendis – 42(69) | Lahiru Thirimanne – 30(81) | Mitchell Starc – 5/46
