The time they spent at the crease was crucial as they built partnerships (highlighted by their own 211-run stand for the sixth wicket in Sri Lanka’s first innings) and ensured Australia had a tough target to chase.
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Sri Lanka, who resumed on Tuesday on 22 for one, quickly scored two runs to erase the 24-run first innings deficit.
Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva, who notched up centuries in the just-concluded Colombo Test, also made significant gains in the Test batsmen rankings. He faced 74 balls and hit 10 boundaries to increase the scoring rate.
Australia had arrived in Colombo in the No 1 position on 118 ratings points, but following loses in Pallekele (106 runs), Galle (229 runs) and Colombo (163 runs), they have joined England on 108 points, although still ranked above Alastair Cook’s side.
The Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon took four for 123 in 37 overs.
Sri Lanka’s 3-0 whitewash of Australia means that Steven Smith’s team has fallen from No 1 to third, with 108 points.
A gritty century from Kaushal Silva gave Sri Lanka a commanding 288-run second innings lead Tuesday, dimming Australia’s hopes of a consolation win in the third and final Test in Colombo.
After a hopeful Lyon review, Angelo Mathews and his team celebrated the historic triumph in the middle of the Sinhalese Sports Club ground and in front of a raucous crowd boosted because of a Sri Lankan public holiday.
His match-winning figures, which was his seventh 10-wicket haul in Tests, helped Herath climb three places up to the fifth spot in the latest rankings.
“He had a groin strain, he couldn’t run, he couldn’t jump. He was fantastic with one leg, one leg was enough for him”.
Steve Smith accepted his side had been outplayed in all three Tests against Sri Lanka after Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera bowled Australia out for 160 on Wednesday to seal a series sweep.
“The batsmen are having a nightmare facing him no matter how well they play spin”.
Earlier, Pakistan’s most successful Test captain Misbahul Haq said that his side will deserve to be the world’s top-ranked Test team after a thumping victory at The Oval.
“Our plans haven’t worked as individuals or as a collective group, we haven’t been able to put Sri Lanka under as much pressure as we would have liked”, he added.
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“I don’t think we can fault our preparation”.
