PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath backed up centurion Kusal Mendis’ superlative effort to stun top-ranked Australia by 106 runs in the rain-affected first Test in Pallekele on Saturday.
Herath, 38, grabbed 5-54 to help the hosts bundle out Australia for 161 on the fifth and final day after they were set a challenging 268 in the second innings.
Australian skipper Steven Smith posted a gritty half-century before Steve O’Keefe and Peter Nevill frustrated Sri Lanka with a 178-ball partnership.
Herath bagged the last Australian wicket to fall by cleaning up O’Keefe to trigger wild celebration in the Lankan camp. This was Sri Lanka’s only second Test win against Australia in 27 matches.
It was batsman Mendis (176) who set up the unlikely win for Sri Lanka with his superb maiden ton in his team’s second innings after the hosts overcame an 86-run deficit.
The 21-year-old Mendis, the only centurion in a low-scoring contest, played a memorable 254-ball knock laced with 21 fours and a six.
“Special knock by a special young player. Fantastic effort,” an elated Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews said at the post-match presentation.
For Lankan spinners it was a race against time as rain threatened to thwart their chances of upsetting firm favourites Australia but Herath had other ideas in mind.
The left-arm spinner, who grabbed four wickets in the first innings, made life miserable for the Australian batsmen on a turning track on the fifth morning.
Smith, whose 55 was the next best after Mendis’ century, was trapped LBW by Herath as Australia slipped to 141 for seven at lunch.
Debutant chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan, who bagged seven wickets in the match, provided the perfect foil to Herath’s experience.
“The old man Herath was brilliant once again. Sandakan is a brilliant find for us. We knew that the wicket was going to take turn and Sandakan responded brilliantly,” said Mathews.
O’Keefe, who was ruled out of the remainder of the series after injuring his hamstring Thursday, surprised the opposition by turning up at the crease Saturday.
O’Keefe and Nevill resisted stoutly with one eye on the skies but could only delay the inevitable.
“Tough week, credit to Sri Lanka the way they played. We let ourselves down with the bat, we weren’t disciplined with the bat. Credit to Kusal, his 176 turned the game,” said Smith.
“Anything above 260 on this wicket was always going to be difficult. It’s tough to lose O’Keefe but that’s cricket. We have got to find our plans and find ways to play in these conditions.”
Sri Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0 as the action shifts to Galle for the second Test beginning August 4.
Score Board
Sri Lanka won toss
Sri Lanka 1st innings 117 all-out (D Silva 24; Lyon 3-12)
Australia 1st innings 203 all-out (A Voges 47; H Herath 4-49)
Sri Lanka 2nd innings 353 all-out (B Mendis 176; J Hazlewood 2-59)
Australia 2nd innings
J A Burns b Sandakan 29
D A Warner b Herath 1
U T Khawaja lbw b M D K Perera 18
*S P D Smith lbw b Herath 55
A C Voges c & b Herath 12
M R Marsh lbw b Herath 25
†P M Nevill c Chandimal b de Silva 9
M A Starc c & b Sandakan 0
N M Lyon lbw b Sandakan 8
S N J O’Keefe b Herath 4
J R Hazlewood not out 0
Extras 0
Total (all out; 88.3 overs) 161
Fall: 1-2, 2-33, 3-63, 4-96, 5-139, 6-140, 7-141, 8-157, 9-161, 10-161
Bowling: Pradeep 6-3-16-0; Herath 33.3-16-54-5; M D K Perera 13-3-30-1; Sandakan 25-8-49-3; de Silva 11-7-12-1
Result: Sri Lanka won by 106 runs
Series: Sri Lanka lead the 3-match series by 1-0
Test debuts: D M de Silva and P A D L R Sandakan (Sri Lanka)
Man of the Match: B K G Mendis (SL)
Umpires: R A Kettleborough (England) and S Ravi (India). TV umpire: C B Gaffaney (New Zealand). Match referee: B C Broad (England)
