Sri Lanka bowled out for 278, Australia set 141 to win 3rd test and complete 3-0 whitewash

By Stuart Condie

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SYDNEY, Australia — Australia bowled out Sri Lanka for 278 before reaching 13-1 at lunch on Sunday’s fourth day of the third test in Sydney, 128 runs short of victory and a 3-0 series whitewash.

A target of 141 looked routine but opener David Warner followed his first-innings 85 with a golden duck, edging Suranga Lakmal to Mahele Jayawardene at second slip.

At lunch, Phil Hughes was 12 not out and Ed Cowan unbeaten on 1.

Dinesh Chandimal’s intelligent half-century frustrated the Australian bowlers earlier Sunday and his last-wicket stand of 41 with Nuwan Pradeep at least gave the tourists a target to work with.

Sri Lanka added just 10 runs to its overnight 225-7 before Jackson Bird bowled Rangana Herath and Mitchell Johnson bowled Suranga Lakmal.

A collapse looked likely but Chandimal made it to 62 not out, with 11 boundaries in his second highest test score. Pradeep provided stalwart support with 9 before he was caught behind by Matthew Wade off Bird.

Bird finished with 3-76, with Johnson the pick of the bowlers on 3-34.

Things could have been worse for Sri Lanka, with a couple of scares in the first half hour. Chandimal survived a review for lbw and Herath avoided a run out when Wade’s sloppy throw from the other end sailed over Mitchell Johnson at the stumps.

Herath would have been run out two thirds of the way down the wicket had Wade hit the target, but the reprieve was only temporary. Four balls later, Bird bowled him via an inside edge for 10.

Lakmal heaved at Johnson but completely missed and was clean bowled for 0 and the same bowler came close to snaring Pradeep with a bouncer but the last man managed to keep his bat street and the ball just eluded the close fielder.

Pradeep’s response was to hit the next delivery firmly over the slips to the boundary as Sri Lanka ensured some uncomfortable moments for Australia.

21:15ET 05-01-13