For the second consecutive day, rain played spoilsport in Pallekele as the entire final session of Day 2 of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka was washed out. It is still advantage Australia, despite Sri Lanka fighting back on a track that continued to aid spin. Rangana Herath and newcomer Lakshan Sandakan shared eight wickets between them. Not since England's Hedley Verity and James Langridge in 1934 have two left-arm spinners taken four wickets each in an innings.
Some stiff lower-order resistance from the Australians helped them get a handsome lead of 86. The Lankans got off to a terrible start in the second innings, with Kusal Perera trapped in front by Mitchell Starc at the stroke of tea. As the day's play reached a premature end, the hosts were on 6/1. Last year, Pakistan chased down a target of more than 370. Here, there is still plenty of bite and purchase, and the Lankan batsmen would need to play out of their skins to counter-punch the Aussies, who still sit pretty.
Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja were looking confident towards the end of the first day. The impeccable Herath wasted no time in removing both the batsmen, and the Australians were in a spot of bother. Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh's 60-run stand took the team total past the Lankans. Marsh was bowled off a gem from Sandakan, becoming his first Test scalp, while Nuwan Pradeep continued his excellent work from Day 1 and got rid of Voges.
The Australian tail-enders put a hefty price on their wicket. Steve O'Keefe can barely put a foot wrong on the tour so far and added useful runs on the board with the help of Nathan Lyon and Marsh.
Scores: Sri Lanka 117 and 6/1 (2.2 overs); Australia 203.
