Rangana Herath was the wrecker-in-chief for the hosts Sri Lanka once again as they registered a 163-run victory against Australia in the third and final Test to complete a first series whitewash against a major Test playing nation.
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“What a fantastic moment”, home captain Angelo Mathews said after lifting the Warne-Muralitharan trophy.
Australia had reached Colombo as number team with 118 points, but consecutive defeats of 106 runs in Pallekele, 229 runs in Galle and 163 runs in Colombo, they joined England on 108 points but is ranked above Alastair Cook’s side, while Sri Lanka has jumped to 95 points.
The 38-year-old Herath, who bowled with an injured groin in Colombo, remained the team’s go-to man throughout the series, claiming 28 wickets in the three matches.
“You never really get a freebie off him or an easy boundary … he is a terrific bowler in these conditions and he has had a magnificent series”. He was just landing the ball on one leg and he is unbelievable.
Sri Lanka had batted for 4.3 overs in the morning to add 35 runs to their overnight score of 312 for eight before declaring.
Warner brought up his first 50 of the series after lunch before the wheels came off Australia’s challenge with Herath striking a double blow in his 10th over.
Herath soon took over from his fellow spinner to dismiss Australian skipper Steve Smith and senior batsman Adam Vogues in the same over.
The principal lesson from Australia’s defeat is to prepare thoroughly, like the Pakistanis did for their series in England. Perera cut short Warner’s fluent innings at 68, bowling the southpaw around his legs in a dismissal that was a microcosm of the series in which the Sri Lankan spinners tormented the touring batsmen on tracks that suited them.
“We’ve been outplayed in all three matches in this series”.
Celebrations across Sri LankaSri Lanka’s achievement drew praise from Maithripala Sirisena, the country’s president, as well as former cricket legends Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara. “Disappointing but a big learning curve for the guys as well”.
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The teams now head into the limited-overs phase of the tour with the first of the five one-day Internationals scheduled for August 21.
