Herath and Sandakan spin Sri Lanka back into the game

Left-arm orthodox spinner, Rangana Herath and debutant left-arm chinaman, Lakshan Sandakan picked up four wickets each as Sri Lanka bundled out Australia for 203 on day two in the first Test at Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.

After being 66 for 2 overnight, Australia crumbled to 203 courtesy some excellent spin bowling by the left-arm spin twins but managed to come away with a 86-run lead.

Sri Lanka in their second innings opened the batting with Kusal Janith Perera and Kaushal Silva but their aggressive move short-lived as the former was beaten for pace and was given plumb in front off Mitchell Starc.

Soon afterwards, the play was suspended at around 2.30pm due to rain.

Earlier in the opening session, skipper Steve Smith had a sudden rush of blood when he jumped down the track and looked to smash the first ball he faced off Herath out of the ground but missed it completely as Chandimal whipped off the bails.

Voges survived a close LBW shout in the very next ball as the umpires’ call was upheld even though the hosts’ asked for a review but the other overnight batsman, Usman Khawaja had no chance of surviving in the fourth over of the day as the ball struck right in front of the wickets.

After being 69 for 2, the visitors were awestruck at 70 for 4 as Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh steadied the innings. They went through some nervous moments when Herath was bowling over the wicket while the debutant Sandakan kept on bowling the wrong-un from the round the wicket angle.

Photo Album – Sri Lanka vs Australia 1st Test Match – Day 2

The 77-minute partnership was finally ended when Sandakan bamboozled Marsh with another wrong-un and castled him in his 4th over of the morning. Marsh had no idea as the ball pitched on a good length, straightened enough to beat the outside edge as the batsman played for the spin.

Mathews sensed an opportunity for another wicket as he brought back his ace spinner, Herath. He justified his captain’s tactics as wicket-keeper batsman, Peter Nevill holed out to mid-on while attempting a big heave through the leg-side.

After lunch, Nuwan Pradeep kept on pegging at the corridor of uncertainty and was finally rewarded when Adam Voges edged to gully where Kusal Mendis took a low take as the top run-getter for the visitors fell in the 63^rd over.

Sandakan continued to impress and produce sharp turn to trouble Steve O’Keefe and Mitchell Starc throughout before the latter was caught behind by Kusal Janith Perera (Dinesh Chandimal did not keep wickets after lunch due to a stomach ailment).

O’Keefe provided some stiff resistance scoring a useful 23 before he was sharply caught at short-leg by Kusal Mendis off Sandakan. The first-ever specialist left-arm chinaman for Sri Lanka, Sandakan was almost unreadable off the hand, specially his wrong-un. He finished off the good work in the 80th over when Nathan Lyon was struck plumb in front while attempting a sweep shot.