Australia had a champion left-arm bowler of their own, Mitchell Starc, who took 24 wickets at 15, but as he is quick, he could not bowl as many overs as Herath.
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Dhananjaya de Silva was batting on 44 with Suranga Lakmal yet to open his account at the other end as Australia’s hopes of a pride-salvaging win looked rather dim against the hosts’ formidable spin attack on a final-day track.
The teams will now compete in a five-match one-day series beginning in Colombo on Sunday.
The emphatic 163-run win was sealed late in the second session when Nathan Lyon was lbw to Herath and, with it, Australia lost their No.1 Test ranking in their very first series since being presented with the ICC Test championship mace.
Sri Lanka clinched their first ever whitewash and entered the history books by winning the series against Australia with the victory of the third and final test played at the SSC Grounds.
Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera dismissed Marsh for 23 when the batsman defended a delivery and Kusal Mendis thrust out his hands at forward short leg to parry the ball and twisted his body backwards to complete a stunning catch.
Rangana Herath claimed seven for 64 to bowl Sri Lanka to a comprehensive 163-run victory over Australia in the third Test in Colombo.
Kaushal Silva’s gritty 115 played a big part in Sri Lanka registering their first series sweep against a major side since gaining Test status in 1981.
Having conceded a first innings lead of 24 runs, Sri Lanka are now leading by 288 runs, already a formidable chase for the visitors on a wearing, final-day pitch.
Herath was the man of the match and also bagged the man of the series award for his 28 wickets in three matches.
“He couldn’t run and he couldn’t jump”. But as Karunaratne then rehearsed his stroke, he lifted his back leg, which had been inside the crease – all while Nevill patiently held on to the ball. Credit should go to this man. “It will be a hard chase, but you’ve got a chance to win a Test match for your country”.
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“We have been outplayed in every facet of the game”, said Smith who had been unbeaten as captain before the series. “You’ve got a chance to win a test match for your country, so that’s exactly what we will be looking to try and do: get those wickets as quickly as we can and make the runs”.
