Fast bowler Mitchell Starc took his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests to help Australia dismiss Sri Lanka for 281 in its first innings on the first day of the second test on Thursday.
Starc ended with 5/44 and reached his 100-wicket mark in tests. Off spinner Nathan Lyon took 2/78.
Wicket off the first ball
Australia made a dream start when Starc had Dimuth Karunaratne caught by Joe Burns at midwicket with the first delivery of the test and then removed Kaushal Silva (5) caught behind to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 9/2.
But Mendis, who made 176 to set up Sri Lanka’s victory in the first test, continued his rich form and paired with Perera to rescue the innings.
Both sides made one change from the first Test which Sri Lanka won by 106 runs to lead the three-match series.
Australia handed a first test cap to left-arm spinner Jon Holland in place of Steve O’Keefe who returned home injured.
Fast bowler Vishwa Fernando made his test debut for Sri Lanka after Nuwan Pradeep was ruled out due to an injury.
