Australia make light work of Sri Lanka on fourth day, win series 2-0

Australia comfortably beat Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second Test in Galle to take the series 2-0. Requiring only 75 runs to win after wrapping up Sri Lanka's batting effort early on Day 4, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne knocked off the runs inside 18 overs to complete the victory. Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann picked up four-wicket hauls in the second innings to add to the three they had picked in the first innings

It took Australia less than six overs to wrap up Sri Lanka's batting effort on Day 4. Lyon got one to spin and bounce awkwardly as the hosts' only hope - Kusal Mendis - top-edged a pull to short-fine leg. Lahiru Kumara smashed Kuhnemann to the fence for four. The next two overs by Lyon saw two unsuccessful reviews by the tourists and a catch at second slip overturned as it bounced into the fingers of the fielder. But Beau Webster wrapped up the innings with the first ball of his spell to dismiss Kumara.

In reply, Nishan Peiris got the new ball to spin and skid, bamboozling Head early on in his innings. But the southpaw went through with his shots as he cut one through extra cover for four. Ramesh Mendis, from the other end, squared up Khawaja, turning the ball away from the left-hander. But in an attempt to overcompensate, Mendis bowled three full deliveries in the following over, which were all dispatched for fours. The experienced Prabath Jayasuriya picked up Head as he nicked behind to Kusal but that was the only glimmer of joy Sri Lanka had in the day.

Labuschagne and Khawaja held steady to take Australia past the finish line with ease, scoring the winning runs off Dimuth Karunaratne who played his 100th and final Test.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 257 and 231 (Angelo Mathews 76, Kusal Mendis 50; Matthew Kuhnemann 4-63, Nathan Lyon 4-84) lost to Australia 414 (Alex Carey 156. Steve Smith 131; Prabath Jayasuriya 5-151) & 75/1 (Usman Khawaja 27*, Marnus Labuschagne 26*; Prabath Jayasuriya 1-20) by 9 wickets.