Australia in Sri Lanka: Australia enforce follow-on with Sri Lanka staring down massive defeat

Headshot of Jake Santa Maria
Jake Santa Maria
The Nightly
Nathan Lyon celebrates after taking the wicket of Prabath Jayasuriya.
Nathan Lyon celebrates after taking the wicket of Prabath Jayasuriya. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

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!

Matthews falls!

It’s all falling apart again!

Matthews goes for a reverse sweep but it bounces to come off the top edge onto his shoulder and then to Travis Head at short leg.

Another soft dismissal as the looks to be ending in a hurry now.

Kamindu holes out!

He has been all attack since coming to the crease and had just slapped Kuhnemann back over his head for four.

He comes down next ball as he looks to repeat the stroke but he can’t get to the pitch as the bat turns in his hands and it goes down the throat of Starc at long-on.

Mendis has thrown it away.

Missed chance!

Lyon turns one into the pads of Matthews and Lyon goes up for an LBW shout.

Smith looked keen for a review but Lyon and Carey didn’t seem too interested but replays show it would’ve been hitting leg stump.

Looked to be turning down leg live but a chance missed.

Ball of the century areas at the MCG

England have put up a better fight in the second innings but Alana King is unstoppable with balls like these.

We’re back

And Kamindu Mendis is on the attack reverse-sweeping Kuhnemann for four before crunching six with a conventional sweep.

Mendis averages 71 in Test cricket and largely got himself out in the first innings.

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.

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