Aussies take out Sri Lanka's top order

PALLEKELE: Australia's seamers took advantage of the early life in the Pallekele wicket to rip through Sri Lanka's top order on the opening day of the second cricket Test on Thursday.

The hosts, electing to bat after winning the toss, slipped to 14-3 by the eighth over before struggling to 76-5 by lunch at the Pallekele International Stadium.

Ryan Harris and Trent Copeland picked up two wickets apiece as Australia, leading the three-match series after winning the first Test in Galle by 125 runs, dominated the Sri Lankan batsmen once again.

Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera led a brief revival with a 43-run partnership, but wickets continued to tumble even on a pitch that rolled out in favour of the batsmen after providing some early seam movement.

Samaraweera was dismissed 20 minutes before lunch, caught behind off Harris for 18, while Prasanna Jayawardene threw away his wicket just before the break.

Jayawardene smashed off-spinner Nathan Lyon for a six and four, but holed out in the deep off the last ball of the over.

Sangakkara was unbeaten on 29, after being given a life two runs earlier when Shane Watson spilled a catch at first slip.

Harris struck the first blow in his second over when he forced Tharanga Paranavitana to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.

It was the second successive duck for the left-handed opener, who had failed to score in the second innings at Galle.

Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan made four when he tried to leave a ball from Copeland which swung back sharply to clip his off-stump.

Copeland also removed Mahela Jayawardene in his next over as Michael Hussey dived to his left at gully to pick up a stunning catch.

Jayawardene, whose classy century in Galle failed to save Sri Lanka, managed only four this time.

Australia made one change from the side that won the first Test, bringing in debutant Shaun Marsh for former captain Ricky Ponting, who has returned home for the birth of his second child.

The left-hander received his baggy green Australian cap before the start of play from his father, Geoff Marsh, a former opening batsman who played 50 Tests and 117 one-dayers before retiring in 1992.

Sri Lanka included leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna for his maiden Test match after both Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis were ruled out with injuries.

Herath, who bagged a five-wicket haul in Galle, injured a finger at practice, while Mendis woke up Thursday with a back strain.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011