Spinners, Webster put Australia in sight of first Sri Lanka series win for 14 years

Table of Contents

A banner hung from the ramparts of the old Dutch fort with the words "South Africa you're next!" and in the final half hour of day three, Australia finally landed the important blows to put them in a position to chase down a 2-0 lead over Sri Lanka.

The hosts' middle order put up a top effort in the evening session, building a solid lead that left the possibility of even more on the fourth morning. Just when it seemed like the game was heading in their favour, the indefatigable Nathan Lyon picked up his 550th Test wicket, claiming Angelo Mathews for 76 runs playing a sweep shot.

Fair dinkum, Mathews got taken out by one of Beau Webster's fair few top-notch catches in that game, and fair enough if Steve Smith decided to nut the ball to him for some off-spin right then and there.

The Aussie bowlers managed to get Webster out with a catch by Ramesh Mendis at leg, on the short fence. The terrific Matt Kuhnemann (4-52) then wrapped up his opposite number Prabath Jayasuriya with a clever ball in the last over of the day, leaving Australia needing just two more wickets to complete a comeback. Kusal Mendis (48 not out), batting with a lot of confidence and class, is now their best chance of pulling off a big win. But for that, they need to chase down a substantial target, given their current lead of just 54.

Fair dinkum, Kuhnemann's been the one consistently standing out among the Aussie spinners, ricketing three top-order batsmen, as Cooper Connolly's been given a stint of having a fair red. Australia last had a fair crack at beating Sri Lanka in a Test series at home back in 2011.

Smith's magnificent knock of 259 alongside Alex Carey was brought into sharp focus as 15 wickets fell for the day, including a devastating loss of 7-64 before lunch.

Some padding was provided by Webster, who got his body as close to the turning ball as possible to smother it, but he also had a bit of luck, as he was dropped by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis on 25.

With some help from Mitchell Starc, Webster got the Australians moving to 414, all out on the dot of lunch time. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya bowled beautifully to end up with figures of 5-151.

Fair dinkum, Smith and Carey reckoned they'd seen a big day of batting ahead of 'em, but the second new ball coming out sparked a bit of trouble for both of 'em.

As Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, and Usman Khawaja found out, the harder soil and shinier leather made for a tough mix of balls that swung sharply and turned quickly, while others just tracked on quickly and smoothly.

Smith was cleared a couple of times by Jayasuriya's deliveries that swung sharply, and he was quick to take the walk when another one did so while nudging the outside edge. Inglis came to the crease with spring in his step, but knocked off the next two deliveries, marching off after playing a tricky one back that skited through to get bowled him right through his pads.

Webby, who enjoyed a squid and chips with his mates at Unawatuna beach on the second arvo, kept his form intact and continued to make valuable contributions in his three Tests so far, while successfully having a lbw decision overturned on Joel Wilson when Jayasuriya drifted one right across him.

Carey's brilliance took him to the highest score in South Asia by an Aussie wicketkeeper, eclipsing Adam Gilchrist's double ton against Sri Lanka (in '04) and Bangladesh (in '06). But the new ball's skid finally got the better of him on a sweep shot, zooming through to knock over the off stump as Carey heard the umpire's disappointing clang.

He had previously mentioned that he thinks there's a spot in the Australian Test team for both Carey and Inglis.

Connolly's first Test innings was one of frantic swings and go. His first ball whizzed outside his bat and his second brought an unlucky lash at the ball. He just got enough of the ball in a hack to avoid gully on the back leg and get off the scoreboard in Tests, but the next ball he swung at Nishan Peiris recklessly and sent a top-edge catch to fielder.

Starc and Webster managed to score another 22 runs between 'em, and the last bloke, Kuhnemann, put a few more on the board. The tourists got a lead of over 150, and that's plenty of pressure to put on the locals.

Pathum Nissanka got out to Kuhnemann's second delivery, eerily similar to Inglis' exit. Karunaratne then got out, earning a handshake from Smith, a pat on the back from Lyon and a hug from Dinesh Chandimal, before tipping his cap to the crowd.

Sri Lanka's standout performer throughout the series, Chandimal, has put up a thrilling contest with Lyon.

He's driven nicely a fair few times, but this occasion Lyon bowled just enough inaccurate length to tempt a catch that was possible for Webster. It was Lyon's 550th Test delivery and a quick finish seemed likely.

Kamindu got out of a couple of lbw appeals, but just before afternoon tea, he made a mistake swinging at Lyon's delivery and spilled a catch to Khawaja. Dhananjaya De Silva went after a quality delivery from Kuhnemann and wasn't spared as Smith took a sharp catch. The game was just about over, but Mathews and Kusal seemed determined to put up a fight despite the odds.

Their stand of 70 went at a good clip, and was starting to look like a real problem when Lyon got Mathews to play a sweep shot and Webster was there, he took the catch in the field, and then he was on the ground with the ball. In his short time playing Test cricket, he's rarely missed an opportunity to do his part.

.