Left Arm Around

Sri Lanka sit on the cusp of a series whitewash defeat to Australia after a flurry of wickets late on day three of the second Test in Galle.

The hosts closed on 211-8, a lead of just 54.

Angelo Mathews fought valiantly alongside Kusal Mendis in a crucial fifth wicket partnership of 70, but Mathews’ dismissal for 76 to Nathan Lyon triggered a loss of 3-13.

Spinners Lyon (3-80) and Matthew Kuhnemann (4-52) shone once again to share seven wickets, while all-rounder Beau Webster struck almost immediately into his first spell to remove Ramesh Mendis for a duck.

Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis remains unbeaten on 48 from 50 deliveries following his first-innings 85, however any aspirations of a herculean fight back by the hosts are virtually gone.

But for that counter-attacking stand between Mendis and Mathews, it is possible Sri Lanka would have faced the humiliation of consecutive innings defeats.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne ended his 100th and final Test with just 14 as the hosts soon slipped to 39-3, courtesy of the tourists’ sustained discipline and pressure.

There was also a huge milestone for off-spinner Lyon, who made his debut on this ground back in August 2011.

The key wicket of dangerman Dinesh Chandimal was his 550th in Tests- leaving him seventh on the all-time list.

He needs a further 12 to overtake Glenn McGrath as the second highest Australian Test wicket-taker in history behind the late Shane Warne (708).

Earlier, Sri Lanka were impressive in restricting the visitors to 414 all out.

Australia sat well placed on 330-3 overnight, but the dismissal of centurion Smith triggered a collapse of seven for 64.

Prabath Jayasuriya was the star with 5-151, removing Smith and Josh Inglis in the space of three balls before returning to knock over Alex Carey for a brilliant 156.

The 33 year-old then secured his 11th fifer in only 21 Tests when he bowled Mitchell Starc.