Perfect 10 for Starc, 2-0 triumph for Australia

CANBERRA, February 4 

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc picked up his second five-wicket haul in the match to lead Australia to a comprehensive 366-run victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka and a 2-0 series win here today. Chasing an improbable 516 for victory, the tourists were shot out for 149 by Australia, who won the opening Test in Brisbane by an innings and 40 runs.

The series win against Sri Lanka was the first for Australia since they thrashed England 4-0 in the Ashes early last year. “It’s nice to get some reward. I’ve said all summer this group has been working really hard,” Australia captain Tim Paine said after the win. “I think we’re starting to build towards something, so it’s great to get some reward for the work we’ve been putting in. It doesn’t matter what the wicket is like or who you are playing against.” 

Starc strikes

Left-arm quick Starc bowled with the same aggression and pace that earned him a five-wicket haul in the first innings to finish with 5/46, his second match haul of 10 wickets. He began the day by adding the wickets of opener Dimuth Karunaratne and Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal to his tally. The paceman got a fast delivery to cut back into Karunaratne, and breach his defence to clip the bail. Chandimal was out for four when he guided Starc straight into the hands of Marnus Labuschagne at slip, which ended a dismal tour for the right-hander, who aggregated 24 runs from four innings.

“We were outplayed as a team in all three departments,” said a dejected Chandimal. “Credit goes to Australia, they have played some outstanding cricket throughout the series.” 

Sri Lanka promoted Niroshan Dickwella, who had made an attacking 64 in Brisbane, and he and opener Lahiru Thirimanne added 30 for the third wicket. A sharply climbing delivery from Pat Cummins ended Thirimanne’s knock when the fast bowler sprinted forward to take a diving return catch inches off the ground. Starc returned for his second spell to dismiss Dickwella (27) and Kusal Perera in successive deliveries. Dhananjaya de Silva kept out the hat-trick delivery but fell right after the lunch interval to Jhye Richardson. Cummins finished with 3/15 and was adjudged Man of the Series for his haul of 14 wickets. — Reuters

Brief scores: Australia 534/5 dec (Burns 180, Head 161, Patterson 114*); 196/3 dec (Khawaja 101*, Head 59*); Sri Lanka 215 (Karunaratne 59; Starc 5/54) and 149 (Starc 5/46)