Sri Lanka closes in on series win in 2nd test vs. Australia

Galle: Sri Lanka is in sight of a series-clinching win in the second test after Dilruwan Perera starred with bat and ball, along with a hat trick by fellow spinner Rangana Herath on Friday. Chasing a daunting 413 to win, Australia lost three second-innings wickets in the six overs it faced to end on 25-3 at stumps on the second day. The tourists need 388 more runs for an improbable victory, with three days remaining. Perera added two more wickets to his four from Australia's first innings, when the tourists collapsed to 106 all out after resuming the day on 54-2, with Herath taking a hat trick. "It was a good achievement. I have taken a hat trick only playing for school and not anywhere else. So very pleasing to do that against the No. 1-ranked team," Herath said. "After 17 years we are on the verge of winning the series. I am lost for words to explain that." Sri Lanka achieved its only test series win against Australia in 1999 under Sanath Jayasuriya's captaincy. Perera also top scored with 64 in Sri Lanka's second innings total of 237. Captain Angelo Mathews made 47. When the Australians came out to bat again on the same day, Herath had opener Joe Burns (2) caught by Kaushal Silva and Perera dismissed nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (0) and Usman Khawaja (0) in successive deliveries. Captain Steve Smith carefully negotiated the hat trick ball and remained at the crease with one run. Earlier, Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc recorded career-best 11-94 match figures to help his side dismiss Sri Lanka for 237 in its second innings. Starc's previous best was 8-209 against South Africa in 2012. As many as 21 wickets fell during the second day and 33 wickets have fallen in two days of play. Sri Lanka made 281 in its first innings for a 175-run lead. Australia started Friday badly, quickly slumping to 59-4. Then Herath had Adam Voges (8) caught by Dimuth Karunaratne and trapped Peter Nevill and Starc lbw to join retired left-arm seamer Nuwan Zoysa as the only Sri Lankans to have got test match hat tricks. Sri Lanka leads the three-match series 1-0.