Australia humiliate Sri Lanka, seal Test series

Australia humiliated Sri Lanka by an innings and 201 runs to win the second test before tea on day three at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, and seal their three-match series 2-0.

Needing 305 runs to make Australia bat again, Sri Lanka surrendered after adding only 103 in their second innings, with a top order collapse and a raft of injuries cutting the match short.

After bowling Australia out for 460 in the first hour, Sri Lanka staggered to lunch at 43-4 and lasted less than 12 overs after the interval.

Sri Lanka lost Kumar Sangakkara to injury after lunch when he retired hurt on 27 after being struck on the glove by a searing delivery from man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson.

With seamer Chanaka Welegedara and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene absent injured, pacemen Johnson and Peter Siddle, and spinner Nathan Lyon shared the remaining three wickets to wrap up the match early and render next week's third and final test in Sydney a dead rubber.

Angelo Mathews held firm to top-score for Sri Lanka with 35, but lived dangerously and was out bowled by Johnson when attempting a hook that rebounded onto the stumps.

Dhammika Prasad struck two successive sixes off Lyon but was caught at cover by Phillip Hughes for 17 on the next ball.

Siddle clinched the winning wicket by having Shaminda Eranga caught by Ed Cowan for a duck.

After dismissing Australia before lunch, Sri Lanka lost three wickets in the first 12 balls of their innings, and a fourth less than four overs later to leave Sangakkara and all-rounder Mathews fighting a virtually hopeless cause.

Australia lost their last two wickets for the addition of 20 runs in the first hour, leaving Mitchell Johnson stranded on 92, but the mercurial paceman was consoled with a direct hand in the first two Sri Lanka wickets.

... contd.

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