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Herath puts Sri Lanka three wickets from victory

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Lunch Australia 203 and 141 for 7 (Nevill 1*, Herath 4-49) need another 127 runs to beat Sri Lanka 117 and 353
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Rangana Herath was the key for Sri Lanka © Associated Press

Rangana Herath delivered Sri Lanka to the brink of a historic Test victory over Australia, striking three times in a shortened session on the fifth day in Pallekele. Herath got rid of Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh but most importantly he ended the fighting innings of Steven Smith, who had become the only Australian to pass fifty in this Test and for most of the session loomed as Sri Lanka’s major obstacle.

The loss of Smith shortly before lunch left Australia in desperate trouble, which only worsened when Lakshan Sandakan chipped in with the dismissal of Mitchell Starc in the final over before the break. The players walked off with Peter Nevill the not-out batsman on 1 and Australia were 141 for 7, needing 127 runs for an extremely unlikely victory of their own. And one of the remaining batsmen, Steve O’Keefe, has a hamstring injury.

Sri Lanka’s spinners relentlessly applied pressure throughout the 90-minute session – rain had delayed the start – and Australia only looked vaguely comfortable when Herath was not in the attack. He had struck the first blow when Adam Voges chipped a return catch that required the third umpire to confirm it had not been a bump ball, and Australia were 96 for 4.

Smith and Mitchell Marsh put on 43 for the fifth wicket, a partnership that might have given Australia some hope of getting within sight of the target of 268, but Herath was again the man who broke the stand when he trapped Marsh lbw for 25. The pressure increased again in the next over when Smith was given out caught-behind off a Sandakan wrong-un, but his review showed clear daylight between bat and ball.

It was only a matter of time, though, as Herath got rid of Smith for 55 in the very next over. Herath’s ability to drift the ball in from around the wicket and straighten it just enough had caused Australia problems throughout the session, and it was just such a delivery that trapped Smith lbw. Forlornly he asked for a review, but was resigned to his fate, and he was almost off the field when the third umpire confirmed he was out.

The loss of Starc for a duck in the next over – he chipped a return catch to Sandakan – left Australia hoping for rain or bad light to allow them to escape with a draw. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, knew that their second Test victory over Australia in the 33-year-history between the teams, could be just a few balls away.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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