News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 8 years ago
Home  » Cricket » Perera spins Sri Lanka to series-clinching win against Australia

Perera spins Sri Lanka to series-clinching win against Australia

Last updated on: August 06, 2016 14:11 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Rangana Herath

IMAGE: Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath celebrates with team-mates. Photograph: Twitter.

Dilruwan Perera ripped the heart out of the Australian order to spin Sri Lanka to a series-clinching 229-run victory inside three days of the second Test at Galle on Saturday.

 Scorecard

The 34-year-old off-spinner laid bare Australia's spin frailties, claiming 6-70 as the world's top ranked Test team folded for 183 in their pursuit of an improbable 413-run victory target.

Perera, who had claimed 4-29 in the first innings and scored 64 in his team's second innings, became the first Sri Lankan player to score a fifty and claim 10 wickets in the same match as his side clinched their first Test series victory over Australia since 1999.

Resuming on 25 for three, Australia captain Steve Smith (30) and deputy David Warner (41) showed positive intent, frequently using their feet against the spinners and dealing mostly in boundaries even though it was merely delaying what looked inevitable.

Perera separated them, trapping Warner leg-before with a straight delivery. The batsman reviewed the decision but could not get it overturned.

The spinner then returned to induce Smith into giving a bat-pad catch to Kusal Mendis at forward short leg.

Perera, whose all-round performance earned the man-of-the-match award, completed his five-wicket haul when Adam Voges (28) attempted a reverse sweep only to have his leg stump pegged back.

Kusal Mendis then displayed tremendous reflexes as he stopped a Peter Nevill shot at forward short leg and flicked it back on the stumps to run out the batsman and trigger wild celebrations at the Galle International Stadium.

The teams move to Colombo now for the third and final Test from next Saturday.

Rio Olympics, on Rediff.com

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

India In Australia 2024-2025