Sri Lanka spun their way to a series victory over the top-ranked Test team, defeating Australia by 229 runs in Galle to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Anything other than a home victory in Galle looked unlikely, with Steve Smith’s side possessing just seven wickets at the start of day three in a lightning-quick Test.
Dilruwan Perera (6-70) was the star for Sri Lanka, taking 10 wickets in the match, to give the hosts a boost after whitewash defeats to New Zealand and England, rounding out just their second Test series victory over Australia.
The crushing nature of defeat – bowled out for totals of 106 and 183 – will provide Australia coach Darren Lehmann and his players with much to consider ahead of a high-profile tour of India next year.
Captain Smith and opener David Warner resumed with Australia on 25-3 and counter-attacking was in order as both found the boundary with regularity.
Warner danced down the track to club Dilruwan for four at the start of an over but his innings – and Australia’s hopes – were extinguished the next ball as he was done by a flatter delivery and out lbw for 41.
Smith and Adam Voges immediately dropped anchor, but this approach had little joy.
Voges survived when given out for a bat-pad catch on five, but his skipper perished in the same fashion two overs later, having contributed 30.
The first two days had seen 33 wickets fall, a Sri Lankan record, and two more were added to the tally before lunch on day three, Mitchell Marsh (18) given out lbw on review and Voges (28) handing Dilruwan an innings five-for, bowled attempting a reverse sweep.
Mitchell Starc (26) swung lustily after lunch before eventually missing a Rangana Herath (2-74) delivery and Perera’s 10-for was in the bag when he found Josh Hazlewood’s leading edge for seven.
Dliruwan Perera is Man of the Match after becoming the first Sri Lankan to take 10 wickets and score a 50+