Cricket: Herath's Strikes Derail Australia's Chase

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th july,2016) - Rangana Herath dismissed four Australian batsmen including skipper Steven Smith to help Sri Lanka inch closer to victory on a tense final day of the rain-hit first Test in Pallekele on Saturday. Australia, who started on the day on 83 for three, were 141 for seven at lunch, with the visitors 127 short of avoiding what could be an embarassing loss for the top Test side.

Smith (55) made a gritty half-century before becoming Herath's third victim of the morning session as the Australian batting crumbled on a turning pitch. Both sides have been fighting hard to take the lead in the three-match series. Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 117 and 353 all out in 93.4 overs (Kusal Mendis 176, Dinesh Chandimal 42; Mitchell Starc 4-84) Australia 203 and 141/7 in 50.2 overs (Steven Smith 55; Rangana Herath 4-49)