Spinners put Australia on the brink of series win

Spinners put Australia on the brink of series win

Australia is close to a series win in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, with Sri Lanka at 211/8 at the end of the third day. The lead is only 54, with Matthew Kuhnemann taking 4-52 and Nathan Lyon taking 3-80. Kusal Mendis (48*) has been in good form but is running out of partners.

Sri Lanka scored 113 runs in the post-tea session but lost four wickets. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews (76) started well, but Kuhnemann took de Silva's wicket with a sharp spinning delivery. Mathews was unfortunate to get out, attempting an aggressive sweep against Lyon. Webster took two wickets, including Ramesh Mendis.

Kusal Mendis' counterattack helped Sri Lanka take the lead, but the home side's hopes rest on him. Australia needs two more wickets to win.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's spinners, Prabath Jayasuriya (5-151) and Nishan Peiris (3-81), had a good morning session, limiting Australia's first innings lead to 157. However, they rue their bowling on the second day when Australia got into a match-winning position.

Brief scores:

• Sri Lanka: 257 and 211/8 (Angelo Mathews 76; Matthew Kuhnemann 4-52, Nathan Lyon 3-80)
• Australia: 414 (Alex Carey 156, Steve Smith 131; Prabath Jayasuriya 5-151)