Rangana Herath claimed a hattrick against Australia after the left-hand bowler dismissed Adam Voges, Peter Nevill and Mitchell Starc on consecutive deliveries during the second Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Galle.
Herath became only the second Sri Lanka bowler to achieve the feat.
Sri Lanka are currently playing a home series of three Tests against the Kangaroo team.
Having one the first game, hosts Sri Lanka came into this encounter with some confidence by the side.
After batting first, the home team were bundled out for 281 on day 1.
Australia too couldn’t start the proceedings in decent way losing the first wicket without a score on the board.
Opener David Warner was on song and his aggressive batting display was taking on the Lankan bolwers before Dilruwan Perera stopped his ferocious batting. Australia ended day 1 at 54/2.
But the real show on day 2 began when the left-arm spinner Herath held the red cherry in his hands. He first sent Australia captain Steve Smith back in the hut to reduce the visitors to 59/4.
The spinner was on a rampage with his bowling as he troubled every batsmen who came in his way.
But it was the 25th over of the innings that etched Herath’s name in record books.
Adam Voges was the first man to take the long walk back as he smashed one to Karunaratne who took a good forward diving low catch.
Voges’ dismissal was followed by wicket-keeper batsman Peter Nevill’s scalp who was trapped by Herath in front of the stumps.
Tail-end batsman and star of Australia’s first innings bowling Mitchell Starc came in at no.8 to face the music.
Herath tossed the ball a bit and it hit Starc’s pads in front of the wickets.
A loud appeal from Herath and co. was turned down by the umpire.
Captain Angelo Mathews decided to go upstairs to review the decision and the third umpire overturned the on-fieled decision to give Starc out.
This is the second time when a bowler from Lanakan island has achieved a hattrick.
Previously, it was seamer Nuwan Zoysa who claimed the feat.
-Agencies
