Australia won the second Test against Sri Lanka by nine wickets in Galle on Sunday to sweep the series 2-0. Set a target of 75 to win, Australia lost only Travis Head as they romped to a commanding victory before lunch on day four.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Steve Smith's men had earlier on Sunday bundled Sri Lanka out for 231, after the hosts had resumed on 211-8 from overnight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka's resistance lasted just 26 minutes, losing Kusal Mendis for 50 and Lahiru Kumara for nine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann took four wickets each for Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The duo spun a web around the hosts, making full use of a dust bowl tailor-made for turn.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Kuhnemann, playing just his fifth Test, upstaged the seasoned Lyon, finishing as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 16.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The left-arm spinner bowled impeccable line and length, a performance even more remarkable given that he had broken his right thumb just two weeks before the first Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka's fragile batting meant their fortunes rested heavily on Kusal Mendis, who had already played a fine hand in the first innings with an unbeaten 85 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the second innings, he carried on the fight, bringing up his half-century with a crisp punch through covers off Lyon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
However, the joy was short-lived.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Off the next ball, Mendis was done in by extra bounce, top-edging an attempted flick straight into the hands of Steve Smith.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Australian skipper entered an elite club, becoming only the fifth player in Test history to complete 200 catches –- alongside Rahul Dravid, Joe Root, Mahela Jayawardene, and Jacques Kallis.<\/p>\r\n\r\n