Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara was robbed of a possible double century by a poor umpiring decision today as Brett Lee bowled Australia to a 96-run victory on the fifth day of the second cricket Test.
Chasing a world-record total of 507 to win on a flat Bellerive Oval pitch, the tourists resumed on 3-247 this morning and were bowled out for 410 in the third over after lunch.
Australia won the two-match series 2-0 and claimed their 14th consecutive win, two short of the world record set by Steve Waugh's Australian side in 2001.
Lasith Malinga (42 not out with five fours and three sixes) and Muttiah Muralitharan (15) shared a feisty stand of 46 runs for the last wicket before Lee bowled Muralitharan to claim 4-87 and eight wickets for the match.
Lee also took eight wickets in Australia's big win by an innings and 40 runs in the first Test in Brisbane to be a deserved man of the series.
Sri Lanka had advanced today to 3-265 before losing 5-25.
Lee dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya caught behind for 45 in the fifth over after a 107-run partnership with Sangakkara.
Three overs later Mitchell Johnson (3-101) struck twice in two balls, removing Chamara Silva (0) caught at second slip and trapping wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (0) lbw with no shot offered.
Captain Ricky Ponting elected not to take the second new ball after the 80th over and gave wayward leg-spinner Stuart MacGill (1-102) another chance.
MacGill's 0-93 from 16 overs yesterday and knee trouble were put to one side as he dismissed Farveez Maharoof (4) caught at mid-on from a long-hop.
In the following over Sri Lanka lost their fifth wicket of the morning with tailender Dilhara Fernando run out attempting a third run in a sloppy performance from the first ball he faced, as substitute fielder Rhett Lockyear claimed his third dismissal for the game - two run outs and one catch.
Stuart Clark (1-103) took the second new ball in the 89th over and Sangakkara drove handsomely through cover to reach his 150 from 246 balls with 20 boundaries.
The left-hander and Malinga added 74 in 66 minutes for the ninth wicket before Sangakkara was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Stuart Clark and given out caught in slips by Ponting for 192, after hitting 27 fours and one six in 431 minutes.
It was the highest-ever Test score at Bellerive Oval, but the decision from South African umpire Rudi Koertzen was a shocker and Sangakkara had plenty to say as he departed at 9-364.
The writing was on the wall for Sri Lanka when they went to lunch at 9-391.
AAP
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