Herath hat-trick headlines 21-wicket day

Australia 106 (Warner 42, D Perera 4-29, Herath 4-35) and 25 for 3 (Warner 22*, Smith 1*) need another 388 runs to beat Sri Lanka 281 and 237 (D Perera 64, Starc 6-50)Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

The second day in Galle finished as it started: with Steven Smith at the crease facing Dilruwan Perera. Australia would take that result if it meant a captain’s innings, a double-century to drag his side back into the series. The reality was a world away from that, for in between Perera had taken five wickets and scored a half-century, Rangana Herath had claimed a hat-trick, 21 wickets tumbled, and Australia collapsed to their lowest ever Test total against Sri Lanka.

This was the day on which Sri Lanka made certain that they would lift the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy for the first time. It was not yet struck in 1999, the only other occasion on which they beat Australia in a series. Indeed, that was the only other occasion on which they beat Australia in a Test. In the first 33 years of Test cricket between the two countries, Sri Lanka won just a single game. They will now do so twice in a fortnight.

Australia were set 413 for victory, which would be the third-highest successful chase in Test history. Gettable, perhaps, for an in-form batting unit on a pitch to their liking, if everything falls their way. But this Australian outfit was demolished in the first innings for 106, on a turning surface against a quality spin attack. Australia have as much chance of winning Olympic gold in baseball as they do of victory in this Test. And no, baseball is no longer on the Olympic roster.

By stumps, Australia were already 25 for 3 in their chase. Joe Burns had driven a catch to cover off Herath in the first over. Nightwatchman Nathan …

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