Aus skittle Lanka for 174, take Day 1 honours

Australia's pace bowlers took eight quick wickets to skittle out Sri Lanka for 174 runs on day one of the second Test in Kandy on Thursday, as the home team struggled against fast bowling from the start of the innings.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris captured three wickets, while Trend Copeland and Mitchel Johnson took two apiece, and part time medium fast bowler Michael Hussey claimed one, as they bowled out Sri Lanka in 64.1 overs.

Australia, in reply, were 60 without loss at stumps. Shane Watson was unbeaten on 36, and Phil Hughes on 23.

Resuming the innings at 150 runs for 8 wickets after tea, Sri Lanka survived only 6.1 overs before being all out.

Angelo Mathews resisted Australian bowlers to hit his fourth Test half century before being dismissed for 58, which included three sixes and six boundaries in 111 balls.

He was caught behind off Johnson as Mathews single handedly tried to lift the score without the support from the other end.

Before tea, Hussey dismissed Kumar Sangakkara for 48 runs to break the sixth wicket partnership, which helped Sri Lanka to recover from 76 for five wickets in the first session.

Resuming from 76 for five at lunch, both Sangakkara and Mathews added 52 runs for the sixth wicket before Hussey struck in his third ball of the only over he has bowled in the Test.

Sangakkara was caught by Hughes at short extra cover for 48 runs and the end of his 121-ball knock was Hussey's third test wicket in 61 Test matches.

Pacemen Trend Copeland and Ryan Harris dismissed four Sri Lankan top order batsmen in the first session as none of the Sri Lankan batsmen were able to take on the Australian pacers with confidence from the first ball of the innings.

Earlier, opening bowler Ryan Harris remove Tharanga Paranavitana for no score in the third over as the opener prodded an edge to wicket keeper Brad Haddin, leaving Sri Lanka 2 for one.

Then Copeland, who claimed Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan as his first career wicket in the debut Galle Test, again dismissed, forcing him to misjudge the ball which hit the top of the off-stump.

Dilshan scored only 4 runs and his dismissal left Sri Lanka defensive at 10 for two wickets.

Copeland in his next over removed Mahela Jayawardene as Michael Hussey held an excellent catch leaping to his left to get rid of the only century maker in the first Test.

Mahela's wicket left Sri Lanka in deep trouble with only 14 runs for three wickets.

Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera led Sri Lankan recovery in the first session, adding 43 runs for the fourth wicket.

Samaraweera fell for 17 caught by Haddin off Harris in the 24th over when the Sri Lanka total was only 57.

Wicket keeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardene joining Sangakkara for the fifth wicket, attempted to accelerate the total, but was caught for 18 by Harris off Nathan Lyon's first over.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first as left-handed batsman Shaun Marsh and spinner Seekuge Prasanna made their debut for Australia and home team respectively.

Australia won the first Test in Galle by 125 runs and lead the three-match series 1-0.

Scorecard

Sri Lanka (1st innings): 
T. Paranavitana c Haddin b Harris 0
T.M.Dilshan b Copeland 4
K.Sangakkara c Hughes b Hussey 48
M.Jayawardene c Hussey b Copeland 4
T.Samaraweera c Haddin b Harris 17
P.Jayawardene c Harris b Lyon 18
A.Mathews c Haddin b Johnson 58
S.Randiv c & b Lyon 4
S.Prasanna b Harris 5
S.Lakmal not out 7
C Welegedara c Copeland b Johnson 2
Extras (b-2, lb-4, nb-1): 7
Total: 174, in 64.1 overs

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-10, 3-14, 4-57, 5-76, 6- 128, 7- 133, 8-150, 9-166

Bowling: R.Harris 16-7-38-3, T.Copeland 12-5-24-2, S.Watson 10-5-17-0, M.Johnson 15.1-1-48-2, N.Lyon 10-2-41-2, M.Hussey 1-1-0-1.

Australia (1st innings):
S.Watson batting 36
P.Hughes batting 23.
Extras (nb-1): 1
Total: 60 for no loss

Bowling: C.Welegedara 5-0-23-0, S.Lakmal 2-0-10-0, S.Prasanna 6.4-1-18-0, T.M.Dilshan 2-1-1-0, S.Randiv 2-0-4-0.