Sandakan keeps Sri Lanka in touch with Australia

09:50 - 27 July 2016

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Sri Lanka finished day two of the first Test 80 runs behind Australia after Lakshan Sandakan took four wickets on his Test debut.

Lakshan Sandakan enjoyed a fruitful debut with the ball as Sri Lanka's spinners kept Australia at bay on the second day of the first Test in Pallekele.

Sandakan and Rangana Herath both took four wickets as the tourists were bowled out for 203 on Wednesday, leaving Steven Smith's side with a lead of 86.

Australia owed much to a 60-run stand between Mitchell Marsh (31) and Adam Voges for the fifth wicket, the latter top scoring in the innings with 47.

Despite making good starts Australia were unable to build them into big scores, the spin duo of Sandakan (4-58) and Herath (4-49) causing problems throughout the day.

Sri Lanka made a stuttering start to their second innings as Kusal Perera (4) fell early before rain stopped play for the day.

Having finished day one 51 behind the hosts, Australia hoped Smith and Usman Khawaja would go on to open up a commanding lead, however neither lasted long.

Herath accounted for them both in the opening four overs – Smith (30) deceived in the flight before being stumped, while Khawaja (26) was trapped in front by a quicker delivery.

Their overnight score of 66-2 quickly became 70-4, but Marsh and Voges restored some control with a patient partnership that took Australia past Sri Lanka's meagre first innings total of 117.

However, with half centuries in sight for both, their partnership was ended when Sandakan clean bowled Marsh before lunch.

Peter Nevill (2) was not able to make an impression either as Herath claimed his third wicket of the day, and the second session belonged to Sandakan.

After Nuwan Pradeep (2-36) had removed Voges, 25-year-old newcomer Sandakan claimed the final three wickets of Mitchell Starc (11), Steve O'Keefe (23) and Nathan Lyon (17) – leaving him with the fourth-best figures for a Sri Lankan debutant.

Sri Lanka cut their deficit to 80 before rain stopped play with a session to spare, but the showers did not arrive quickly enough for Perera, who was lbw to Starc (1-3) with what turned out to be the last ball of the day.