Australia in Sri Lanka: Australia enforce follow-on with Sri Lanka staring down massive defeat
The rain is the biggest obstacle standing in the way of Australia of a first Test win as they hope to breakthrough Sri Lanka’s resistance early on day four.
Follow the latest action from the First Test here!
Lunch - Sri Lanka 3/75 trail by 414
A perfect session for Australia where they took eight wickets to finish off Sri Lanka’s first innings and then rip through the top order.
Chandiaml and Matthews looked good for their partnership but that Lyon strike could see this match over in the next session.
Lyon with the breakthrough!
For the second time today Lyon has Chandimal after he gets one to bounce and just brush the gloves as it loops up to short leg.
It wasn’t given and Lyon didn’t look confident but Smith had no doubt reviewing straight away and that’s a massive wicket as we go to lunch.
Great review from the captain.
50 partnership
This is the best Sri Lanka has looked with the bat with Chandimal and Matthews bringing up the 50 partnership at better than four an over.
There was a close call with Matthews almost inside edging one onto Carey’s foot which Webster caught at slip but the ball just bounced before hand.
Australia could maybe try and squeeze the runs up to apply some pressure but with a 427 run lead no reason they can’t stick to all out attack
Sri Lanka steady
Chandimal is batting for the second time today along with Angelo Matthews.
They’re Sri Lanka’s most experienced campaigners with the game now resting on them to fight it out.
They’ve looked largely untroubled so far taking Sri Lanka to 2/34.
Another one
USE YOUR BAT KARUNARATNE.
The Sri Lankan opener shoulders arms to one that slides on rather than turns to ping back the top of off-stump and give Murphy his first wicket of the series.
Superb bowling from Murphy and Sri Lanka look completely scatterbrained.
STARC STRIKES
Classic in-swinging yorker beats Fernando’s inside edge and he’s trapped absolutely plumb.
For some reason, Fernando reviews only to see the ball crashing into the middle of the middle stump.
Absolute cracking delivery.
Murphy opens from the other end
He didn’t pick up a wicket in the first innings but only bowled the six overs.
He spins one sharply to beat Fernando’s reverse sweep.
He deosn’t seemed bothered as he repeats the stoke twice picking up four and a single.
2nd-innings underway
Starc to open the bowling having not been needed so far this morning.
He beats Karunaratne with an absolute seed that swings away but just misses the edge.
What a morning
Kuhnemann and Lyon bowled superbly this morning taking the last five wickets in just 45 minutes.
It all fell apart quickly once Mendis fell given Sri Lanka’s long tail.
There’s rain on the way but there’ll still get a good chunk of play in today while tomorrow looks sunny leaving Sri Lanka with a mountain to climb.
All over Kuhnemann gets 5
What a morning for Australia.
Virtually everyone around the bat as Vandersay has a swing but can only pop it straight in the air as Starc completes a simple catch.
Kuhnemann finishes with 5/63 as Sri Lanka roll over on day four to be bowled out for 165.
No doubt Australia will enforce the follow-on with the home side trailing by an almighty 489 runs.
