Smith smarts has Aussies in reach of droughtbreaking series win

Beau Webster’s much-vaunted versatility came to the fore and Steve Smith’s smarts changed the game as Australia closed in on a drought-breaking series victory in Sri Lanka.

Beau Webster’s much-vaunted versatility came to the fore as Australia closed in on a droughtbreaking series victory in Sri Lanka despite the hosts summoning long-awaited fight to push the second Test into a fourth day.

Sri Lanka was 8-211 in its second innings after a topsy-turvy Saturday at Galle International Stadium, leading by 54.

A peripheral figure for much of the series to date, Tasmanian Webster was crucial on day three, chipping in with handy runs down the order then taking two challenging catches before landing a blow late in the day with his off-spin, having bowled seam-up in the first innings.

Steve Smith meanwhile added to his mighty series feats by taking a brilliant low one-handed grab to remove Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva.

Angelo Mathews scored his highest Test score against Australia in more than a decade. Picture: Getty Images

Veteran Angelo Mathews and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis kept the Aussies at bay with a 70-run stand that ensured the tourists will need to bat again to close out a 2-0 series victory.

But the union ended when Mathews slog-swept Nathan Lyon to fine leg where Webster made ground to send the former skipper on his way for 76.

Tossed the ball by Smith the following over, Webster then struck with his first over of off-spin in Test cricket as Ramesh Mendis parried a chance to Travis Head at short leg.

Marnus Labuschagne celebrates Beau Webster’s wicket with off-spin. Picture: Getty Images

Smith took another catch at slip as Prabath Jayasuriya (six) edged one from Matt Kuhnemann in the final over of the day.

Kuhnemann and Lyon picked up seven wickets between them, with the two frontline spinners doing the bulk of the bowling. Stand-in skipper Smith barely used debutant Cooper Connolly, preferring Head’s part-time off-spin.

Pre-match predictions of a torrent of wickets finally materialised as the Galle wicket turned savagely at times.

Nathan Lyon took his 550th Test wicket. Picture: Getty Images

Kuhnemann had again broken through with the new ball, sliding through Pathum Nissanka’s defence to bowl the opener for nine before drawing an edge from Dimuth Karunratne (14) in the former Sri Lankan captain’s final Test innings.

Karunaratne received a standing ovation from his home side’s dressing room and was warmly applauded by the Aussies as he saluted the crowd on his way off the field.

He was soon joined by Dinesh Chandimal (12), as Lyon took his 550th Test wicket via a terrific low catch from Webster at mid-off.

Lyon then removed Kamindu Mendis, whose underwhelming series continued when he popped up a catch on 14 to Usman Khawaja at mid-off.

Australia captain Steve Smith celebrates with Matthew Kuhnemann. Picture: AFP

Smith pounced with his right hand to grant Kuhnemann a third scalp for the day after de Silva edged on 23.

Shaping for an innings victory as they cruised at 3-350, Australia had earlier lost 7-64 in the first session of day three to leave the door ajar for Sri Lanka to level the series.

Having posted his fourth century in five Tests on Friday, Smith finally departed when tickling an edge from Jayasuriya on 131.

After undergoing a pre-play fitness test after dealing with back stiffness earlier in the Test, Josh Inglis crashed back to earth, bowled by Jayasuriya for a second-ball duck to follow his debut ton nine days earlier.

Matthew Kuhnemann has 4-52 in the second innings, and 16 wickets in this series. Picture: Getty Images

Alex Carey reached 150 for the first time in first-class cricket but had the same fate befall him on 156 after finally missing a sweep, a shot that had proven hugely productive in the wicketkeeper’s outstanding innings.

Picked as a batting all-rounder at No. 8 at the expense of specialist spinner Todd Murphy, 21-year-old West Australian Connolly had bowled just three wicketless overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings and never looked particularly comfortable during his brief stay in the middle on Saturday.

Australia's Alex Carey scored 156, his highest Test score. Picture: AFP

He got off the mark with a sweep for four but that would prove his only scoring shot. Connolly went dancing down the wicket the following over, skying one from Nishan Peiris to backward point.

It could have been even worse for Australia given Mitchell Starc was put down by Nissanka at short leg just two balls later.

Starc and Webster put on 22 for the eighth wicket, with Webster having an lbw decision overturned on 20 after another Joel Wilson error and Starc surviving several chances.

Prabath Jayasuriya took five wickets as Australia collapsed on day three. Picture: Getty Images

They both fell with the score at 406, Jayasuriya bagging his fifth by bowling Starc for eight before Webster was cleaned up by the ragging off-spin of Ramesh Mendis on 31.

Mendis picked up another, finishing off the innings before the scheduled lunch break as Kuhnemann was bowled for six after misreading the pitch of the ball.

SESSION TIMES (AEDT)

Session 1: 3.30pm - 5.30pm

Session 2: 6.10pm - 8.10pm

Session 3: 8.30pm - 10.30pm

* An extra 30 minutes can be used to complete daily overs