MELBOURNE: Kumar Sangakkara joined the 10,000 runs club and Mitchell Johnson claimed his 200th Test wicket as Australia rolled Sri Lanka for just 156 in their first innings at the second Melbourne Test on Wednesday.
Sangakkara stood out with his top score of 58 as wickets tumbled around him, the tourists abjectly surrendering in 43.4 overs after winning the toss at tea in the Boxing Day Test.
The only bright spot for Sri Lanka was Sangakkara’s 195-minute knock which was brought to an end with a stunning running catch by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade at eight wickets down.
In the process Sangakkara was the equal-fastest to the 10,000 milestone, reaching it in his 195th Test innings, the same as Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara.
Sangakkara unfurled a glorious cover drive boundary off Johnson in the final over before lunch to bring up the milestone in his 115th Test match.
But the elegant left-hander was out to a magnificent running catch behind the wicket by wicketkeeper Wade, who scampered 30 meters before flinging himself to take a diving catch and deliver Johnson his 200th wicket in his 49th Test.
Johnson, recalled to the Australian side after being left out of the Hobart Test opener, claimed four for 63 off 14 overs to finish off the sorry Sri Lankans.
Thilan Samaraweera was out to a rash shot on the third ball after lunch when he top-edged debutant Jackson Bird to David Warner at short mid-wicket for 10.
Wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene survived a review for an lbw dismissal off Johnson for 19 but went five runs later to a lifter from the left-armer.
The ball came off high on Jayawardene’s bat and was caught in the slips by Phil Hughes. Johnson struck again next ball with a brutish riser that struck Dhammika Prasad’s gloves for Wade’s third catch of the innings.
Rangana Herath survived Johnson’s hat-trick ball before Sangakkara became Johnson’s fourth victim of the innings.
The Australians were buoyed by the availability of skipper Michael Clarke after a strained hamstring and made early inroads into the Sri Lanka batting top order before a 65,000 holiday crowd under sunny skies.
Bird captured his first Test wicket with his 10th delivery when he moved the ball away from left-hander Dimuth Karunaratne and the outside edge was taken by Wade for five.
Hobart centurion Tillakaratne Dilshan fell three overs later when Johnson got one through his defenses and cannoned into the off-stump for 11.
It got worse for Sri Lanka when Mahela Jayawardene was out three balls after first-hour drinks for three, continuing a dismal scoring series for the skipper.
Peter Siddle moved one off the pitch and enticed an edge off Jayawardene’s bat to give Wade his second catch and leave the Sri Lankans 37 for three in the 13th over.
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene went to hospital for scans for a sore thumb and Sangakkara took over the gloves in Australia’s first innings.
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