The veteran left-arm spinner’s maiden Test hat-trick helped dismiss Australia for a record low of 106 in its first innings, before Dilruwan’s half-century and Angelo Mathews’s fine 47 helped post a target beyond Australia’s reach.
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Australia’s 106 was their lowest total ever against Sri Lanka, and their lowest total in Asia for almost 12 years.
Herath, the only member from Sri Lanka s 1-0 series win against Australia in 1999, said winning the rubber with the current side would be more relishing.
Warner danced down the track to club Dilruwan for four at the start of an over but his innings – and Australia’s hopes – were extinguished the next ball as he was done by a flatter delivery and out lbw for 41.
Lyon, the first Australian off-spinner to claim 200 Test wickets, has worked assiduously on his bowling, but has been told by coach Darren Lehmann he needs to improve in Asian conditions.
“Not too many teams do this to the number-one team”, home captain Angelo Mathews said after his team prevailed in the bowler-dominated contest that saw 33 wickets tumble on the first two days. Unfortunately, they also have the rights to show the Caribbean T20 Premier League and, with a CPL T20 match running inexplicably long, Fox Sports chose to show the last over of that game instead of the first ball of the Australian Test.
The other two Australians on that particular honours list are Alan Davidson, who took 12-124 against India in Kanpur in December 1959, and Garth McKenzie, who claimed 10-91 against India in Chennai in October 1964.
Series victories this summer against South Africa and Pakistan would restore confidence amongst Smith’s men, but would offer no clues for how to play spin on the subcontinent.
After posting their all-time lowest score against Sri Lanka, Australia now need to produce the third-highest successful chase in Test history to avoid losing the three-match series.
Sri Lanka made 237 in their second innings, with Perera also starring with the bat through a top score of 64. Lyon’s nine wickets place him at the second place among the wicket-takers, with Mitchell Starc leading the list on the tour of Sri Lanka.
Herath had opener Joe Burns (2) caught by Kaushal Silva and Perera dismissed nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (0) and Usman Khawaja (0) in successive deliveries.
Aside from the skipper and his vice-captain, there will also be a heap of pressure on Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh and Peter Nevill to make runs and at least add some respectability for Australia. The batsman was initially adjudged not out by the on-field umpire, but Mathews, after a word from Herath, made a decision to review.
But with Starc out of the attack, Kusal Perera and Mathews capitalised, putting on 48 runs at quick pace against the spin duo of Lyon and Jon Holland, the debutant. This is the the first ever time when Sri lanka have won a Test series against the Aussies.
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The action now shifts to Colombo for the final Test beginning August 13.
