Australia close in on a series win over Sri Lanka

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Australia close in on a series win over Sri Lanka

AUSTRALIA V SRI LANKA

Day three of the second Warne-Muralidaran Trophy Test match in Galle, Sri Lanka.

SCORE: Sri Lanka 257, 8-211, Australia 414

SUMMARY: Anything but an *********** win on day four would be a big shock, despite a topsy-turvy third day in Galle. Australia found themselves bamboozled by the new ball early on, with off-spinner Prabath Jayasuriya (5-151) dismissing Alex Carey (156) and Steve Smith (131) as the tourists lost 7-84 before lunch. Australia kept Sri Lanka at arm’s length in the second session as Nathan Lyon (3-80) and Matt Kuhnemann (4-52) had them in knots, the hosts slipping to 4-81 on the tough deck. But Angelo Mathews (76) and Kusal Mendis (48no) partnered in a defiant 70-run stand that gave Sri Lanka the lead, before Lyon broke the all-important partnership. At stumps, Sri Lanka were 54 runs ahead with only two wickets in hand as Australia prepared for a second dig early on day four.

THE MOMENT: Sri Lanka would have been daring to dream of a boilover when Kusal and Mathews were slapping the *********** bowlers around, particularly given even a chase of around 150 would have been tough work for Australia on a Galle pitch playing tricks. But when Mathews swept Lyon to a diving Beau Webster in the deep, Sri Lanka were down to only one out-and-out batter and vulnerable to a late onslaught. They lost two more wickets before stumps.

THE PLAYER: Left-armer Kuhnemann again proved vital for Australia and had immediate impact bowling opener Pathum Nissanka (8) in his first over. He then got rid of Dimuth Karunaratne, caught behind in his final Test innings, and continued an unhappy series for captain Dhanjaya de Silva, who clipped to Smith for a stunning low catch in the slips. It’s easy to forget a dislocated thumb had threatened Kuhnemann’s ability to tour only a matter of weeks ago.

THE STAT: Lyon became only the third *********** to take 550 Test wickets when Dinesh Chandimal (12) hit him to a diving Webster after lunch. He joins Shane Warne (708) and Glenn McGrath (563) among seven Test players to reach the mark, and is all but certain to pass McGrath by the end of the year.

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