Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera bagged six wickets to fashion Sri Lanka’s historic series win over Australia on Saturday as the World No. 1 side suffered a humiliating 229-run loss inside three days in the second Test here.
Australia, chasing 413 for victory, was bundled out for 183 after lunch as Sri Lanka, which won its last series against the visitor in 1999, took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match rubber.
Veteran spinner Rangana Herath set up the win for the host with his maiden Test hat-trick which helped dismiss Australia for a record low of 106 in its first innings.
Australia faltered in its second outing as well after Perera, who registered his career-best figures of six for 70, sent the visitor packing. Overnight batsmen David Warner and skipper Steven Smith offered some resistance with their 51-run fourth-wicket partnership but both fell to Perera.
Warner, who tried to counter attack during his 31-ball 41, was trapped lbw off Perera.
Smith (30) was the next to go as he gave away a catch at backward short-leg.
Perera, who also took two wickets on Friday, then bowled Adam Voges for 28 to register his fourth five-wicket haul in 11 Test matches.
But it was Herath’s left-arm spin that did the early damage.
Herath and Perera shared four wickets between them on the second day which saw the fall of 21 wickets and put the match on the fast track
