Australia's Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each against Sri Lanka, which closed day one at 229-9 in the second test in Galle. Kusal Mendis' half-century provided some resistance for Sri Lanka.

Dinesh Chandimal has scored an unbeaten 63 as Sri Lanka struggled to 136-5 at lunch on Day 3 in reply to Australia's imposing first innings of 654 in the first cricket test.

Australia were firmly in the driving seat despite a spirited Sri Lankan fightback to reach 229-9 at stumps on day one of the second test in Galle on Thursday.

Australia expected the wicket in Galle to turn more than it did on day one after the tourists boldly chose to omit frontline spinner Todd Murphy for debutant all-rounder Cooper Connolly in what assistant coach Daniel Vettori labelled an “incredibly tough call.

Australia's Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon claimed three wickets apiece but Kusal Mendis' battling half-century salvaged a difficult day one for Sri Lanka as they reached 229-9 in the second test in Galle on Thursday.

Australia was firmly in control against Sri Lanka in the second test after reducing the host to 229-9 by stumps on day one Thursday. Half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis kept Sri Lanka in the game,

Kusal Mendis was left stranded on 85 as Australia wrapped up Sri Lanka's first innings for 257 early on day two of the second Test in Galle on Friday. The innings and 242-run humiliation stands as Sri Lanka's worst defeat in Test history.

Sri Lanka 229 for 9 (Chandimal 74, K Mendis 59*, Starc 3-37, Lyon 3-78) vs Australia Australia's trio of specialist bowlers toiled manfully during a see-saw day one against a fighting Sri Lanka on a dry Galle surface that did not live up to the hype,