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08-Sep-2011 13:21:00 GMT
Sri Lanka v Australia, 2nd Test, Pallekele, 1st day

All-round Australia Dominate First Day

Kandy: Australia have taken a firm grip on the second Test with Sri Lanka in Kandy, skittling the hosts for 174 and reaching stumps on day one at 60 for 0.

Shane Watson (36 not out) and Phillip Hughes (23 not out) looked to be in total control in the final session when the umpires ordered the players from the field due to bad light, with stumps called a short time later.

Things were progressing nicely for the Australians until the score reached 46, when Watson made tentative prod to a ball from debutant leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna and was struck on the pad, but a video referral showed the ball pitched outside the line of off-stump.

Earlier, a superb display from Australia's bowlers knocked over Sri Lanka for just 174.

The hosts won the toss and decided to bat on what appeared to be a solid batting track, but some fantastic new-ball bowling from Ryan Harris (3-38) and Trent Copeland (2-24) put Australia in control.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon contributed well with 2-41 and Mitchell Johnson finished with 2-48.

Only Angelo Mathews (58) and Kumar Sangakkara (48) offered any resistance for Sri Lanka, but the rest of the batsmen looked completely at sea against the Australian attack.

The hosts were on the back foot almost immediately, when Tharanga Paranavitana (0) got a faint nick on a Harris ball angled across his off-stump and Brad Haddin swallowed the catch behind the stumps.

Copeland, playing in just his second Test, hit next when Tillakaratne Dilshan (4) misjudged a spearing delivery, electing to shoulder arms as the ball clipped his off stump.

The 25-year-old seamer struck again in his next over when he dismissed Mahela Jayawardene (4).

Copeland pitched one up to the veteran, but his attempted drive caught only a thick outside edge that flew to Hussey at gully and the Australian dived to his left to produce a superb one-handed catch.

At 3-14, the Sri Lankans needed to dig in, and Sangakkara combined with Thilan Samaraweera (17) to take the score beyond 50, their cause helped when Sangakkara was dropped by Watson at first slip after edging a ball from Johnson.

The Australians did not have to wait long for their next scalp, however, and Samaraweera got a faint edge on a Harris ball to give Haddin the simplest of catches, leaving Sri Lanka at 4-57.

Just as it appeared Sri Lanka could launch a recovery, with Prasanna Jayawardene (18) going after Lyon, the batsman put one straight down the throat of Harris in the deep, and the quick completed the catch as the hosts limped to lunch at 5-76.

Sri Lanka looked to be mounting a recovery in the middle session when Sangakkara and Mathews put on 52 for the sixth wicket.

Just when it seemed Sangakkara was on the way to a big score, the classy left hander gave his wicket away to part-time seamer Hussey when he lofted a push to Hughes at short cover.

Sangakkara looked on in disbelief as the Australians celebrated, with Hussey claiming just his third wicket in 61 Tests.

Things got worse for Sri Lanka before tea when Lyon claimed the wicket of Suraj Randiv (4) with a neat caught and bowled, the dismissal bringing Seekkuge Prasanna, a leg-spinning all-rounder to the crease.

The 26-year-old could not make much of an impression with the bat, Harris rattling his stumps when Prasanna (5) played across the line, and the Aussie quick was unlucky not to have a fourth wicket in the same over when Suranga Lakmal was twice adjudged not out after LBW referrals to the video umpire.

Mathews remained unbeaten at tea and after the break he made his intentions clear from the outset as he moved past 50 with a mighty six off Harris, but he fell the very next over when he edged a wide ball from Mitchell Johnson to Haddin.

There was some doubt as to whether the ball carried to the Australian wicketkeeper, but the third umpire ruled in the tourists favour and Mathews trudged back to the pavilion.

Lakmal (7 not out) and Chanaka Welegedara (2) did their best to keep the scoreboard ticking over, but when the latter was caught at third slip by Copeland to give Johnson his second scalp, the Sri Lankans were all out for 174.

Brief scores
Sri Lanka
174 (Mathews 58, Harris 3-38)
Australia 60 for 0 (Watson 36*, Hughes 23*)
Status Australia trial by 114 runs


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