Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews is bowled by Australia's
Mitchell Johnson for 35 runs during the third day of the
second cricket test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photo
by Reuters
Australia head to Sydney for the third and final Test
starting on January 3 with an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the
series.
The tourists will count the cost of a bruising encounter at
the MCG which included master batsman Kumar Sangakkara
retiring hurt on 27 with a suspected broken finger.
Needing 304 to make Australia bat a second time, Sri Lanka
were bowled out for 103 in 24.2 overs with two players absent
hurt, plus Sangakkara who retired hurt.
Australia had resumed on Friday on 8-440 and were dismissed
for 460. Johnson was left stranded on 92 not out, eight runs
shy of his second Test hundred.
Johnson also claimed 4-63 and 2-16 in a man-of-the-match
performance.
Sri Lanka lost 3-3 in the opening two overs of their second
innings in an embarrassing collapse.
Dimuth Karunaratne was run out for one and Tillakaratne
Dilshan was caught at short leg off the bowling of Johnson
for a first-ball duck.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene also made a duck after
inside-edging a rising delivery from debutant Jackson Bird
onto his stumps.
Sri Lanka equalled their worst three-down score after also
being 3-3 against England in 2001.
Bird (2-29) struck again in his third over when Thilan
Samaraweera (one) was trapped lbw at 4-13.
Johnson, who fractured wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene's
right thumb in Sri Lanka's first innings, struck Sangakkara
on his left index finger on Friday. Sangakkara was taken to
hospital for scans.
In his next over, Johnson hit Dhammika Prasad on the hand and
the batsman had a long on-field discussion with medical staff
before batting on.
Four balls later, Angelo Mathews (35) was out to a loose shot
for the second time in the match, this time bowled by Johnson
at 5-74.
Dhammika Prasad (17) fell to spinner Nathan Lyon and Peter
Siddle removed No.9 Shaminda Eranga for a duck.
Prasanna Jaywardene and No.11 Chanaka Welegedara (hamstring)
both didn't bat in Sri Lanka's second innings.
Australia have their own injury troubles with Shane Watson
(calf) not bowling on Friday and in doubt for Sydney.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.