Parera bags six wickets as Sri lanka clinch series

TIL Desk Sports/ Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera bagged six wickets to fashion Sri Lanka’s historic series win over Australia today as the world number one side suffered a humiliating 229-run loss inside three days in the second Test in Galle. Australia, chasing a challenging 413 for victory, were bundled out for 183 after lunch as Sri Lanka, who won their last series against the visitors in 1999, took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber.

Veteran spinner Rangana Herath set up the win for the hosts with his maiden Test hat-trick which helped dismiss Australia for a record low of 106 in their first innings. Australia faltered in their second outing as well after Perera, who registered his career-best figures of 6-70, sent the visitors packing in just 50.1 overs as the Sri Lankan players went into a celebratory huddle.

Overnight batsmen David Warner and skipper Steven Smith offered some resistance with their 51-run fourth wicket partnership but both of them fell to Perera’s guile. Warner, who tried to counter attack during his 31-ball 41, was trapped lbw off a straighter Perera delivery that hit the batsman on the front pad. Sri Lanka won the first Test at Pallekele by 106 runs.