Aus in SL: Sri Lanka win first Test by 106 runs at Pallekele

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 106 runs to win the first Test match and take the series lead 1-0 at Pallekele today (30).

Chasing 268 runs for victory, Australia were bundled out for 161 runs in their second innings with a session remaining. 

Skipper Steven Smith was the top scorer for Australia as he stoke 55 off 125 deliveries with a four but it was a total domination of Sri Lankan spinners Rangana Herath and debutant Lakshan Sandaken. 

Herath captured five wickets and ended with a match bag of nine wickets while Sandaken claimed four and three to finish off with seven wickets from the game. 

Sri Lanka batted first and were skitted out for 117 while Australia took a slender 86-run lead by posted 203 runs. 

In their second innings Kusal Mendis led from the front with a brilliant knock of 176 off 254 deliveries inclusive of 21 fours and a six, to help Sri Lanka pile up 353.

Mendis was named the man-of-the-match in Sri Lanka's second occasion where they beat Australia in a Test match on home soil.

The last time they won was in 1999 in Kandy.  

Sri Lanka 

First Innings 117 all out (34.2) (Dhananjaya de Silva 24, Kusal Perera 20, Nathan Lyon 3/12, Josh Hazlewood 3/21, Steeve O'Keefe 2/32, Mitchell Starc 2/51)

Second Innings 353 all out (93.4) (Kusal Mendis 176, Dinesh Chandimal 42, Dhananjaya de Silva 36, Rangana Herath 35, Mitchell Starc 4/84, Josh Hazlewood 2/59)

Australia 

First Innings 203 all out (79.2) (Adam Voges 47, Mitchell Marsh 31, Steven Smith 30, Usman Khawaja 26, Steve O'Keefe 23, Rangana Herath 4/49, Lakshan Sandaken 4/58, Nuwan Pradeep 2/36)

Second Innings 161 all out (88.3) (Joe Burns 29, Steven Smith 55, Mitchell Marsh 25, Ranga Herath 5/54, Lakshan Sandaken 3/49)