Sri Lanka bag historic whitewash over Oz

Cricket365
August 17, 2016

Sri Lanka won the third Test against Australia by 163 runs in Colombo to record a three nil series whitewash, their first against the Aussies, and Rangana Herath took 13 wickets in the game.

Having started the series the underdogs, Sri Lanka relied heavily on Herath's spin to take the series, as he took 28 wickets in three games, but vital contributions elsewhere helped defeat the spin-hampered Aussies.

Australia collapsed from 77 for none to 160 all out on day five, chasing 324 to win. Sri Lanka had declared early in the day on 347 for eight, after Kaushal Silva's century ensured a hefty lead.

The Aussies started quite well with the bat for once, as David Warner and Shaun Marsh put on 77 for the first wicket. Warner used his feet well and ended up making 68, but was bowled by Dilruwan Perera, around his legs.

The next best score was 23, from Marsh and Mitchell Starc, and the rest of the order all failed. Numbers three to seven, from Steve Smith down to Peter Nevill, all fell for single figures, and four of them to Herath. The other was a run out.

Herath took seven wickets on the day, adding to the six he took in the first innings, as Australia's inability to play spin continued to be showcased. They will hope their ODI side has better luck.

Sri Lanka have never whitewashed Australia in Tests before this, and the result also leaves India at the top of the Test rankings, overtaking Smith's side.

The ODIs start on 21 August.