||Desk Report||

Australia dominate the day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka with a late strike and mammoth total at Canberra on Saturday. Bowlers picked up three late wickets after Kurtis Patterson's maiden Test century propelled Aussies to a commanding 5 for 534.

The visitors reached 123-3 at stumps and trail Australia by 411 runs. Kusal Perera was not out on 11 and Dhananjaya de Silva on one. After resuming on 384-4, Aussies declared their first innings closed after lunch. Kurtis Patterson smashed his maiden Test ton with 14 fours and a six. He was unbeaten on 114 and Paine on 45 at the declaration. It was the hosts’ another unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 130 after Burns’ departure. Sri Lanka’s Vishwa Fernando was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with 3-126.

Following a century drought stretching back to October when Usman Khawaja scored 141 against Pakistan in Dubai, it turned into a flood in Canberra with three batsmen bringing up the magical mark.

Opener Joe Burns punished Sri Lankan attack on day one in a 308-run stand with Travis Head (161). But he only lasted five overs Saturday after resuming on 172, adding eight runs before chopping a delivery from quick Kasun Rajitha onto his stumps. Overnight centurion Burns added eight to his overnight score before playing on to his stumps for 180.

In reply, Sri Lanka’s left-handed opening pair of Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne held off Australia’s attack for 30 overs to add 82 before Karunaratne’s retired hurt.  A vicious Pat Cummins delivery struck Karunaratne around the back of the neck and forced him to leave the ground. He was forced to retire hurt on 46.