Australia wins the first Test match against Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs

On the penultimate fourth day of the Murali-Warne first test match, Australia defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs, defeating the host team for 165 and 247 while taking 15 wickets to go ahead 1-1 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The victory also came despite a highly anticipated rainstorm.

The final first-inning hopes of Sri Lanka, which included Dinesh Chandimal at 63 and Kusal Mendis's partnership to save the sixth wicket and force Australia to bat again, were quickly destroyed in a double strike by Australia, which eliminated both with the score at 156. Matthew Kuhnemann finished with figures of 5 for 63 and 4 for 86. Compared to the 154 overs Steve Smith's team used in their massive 654 for 6 declarations, which saw the Lankans bowled for 247, Australia finished the match in just 106.5 overs overall.