Sri Lanka crumbles to be all out for 156

Updated December 26 2012 - 8:04pm, first published 7:29pm
Australia's Jackson Bird celebrates his first Test wicket. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo
Australia's Jackson Bird celebrates his first Test wicket. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo

Mitchell Johnson's pace overpowered Sri Lanka who were bowled out for 156 on Wednesday's opening day of the second Test before Australia reached 3-150 at stumps.

Skipper Michael Clarke is 20 not out and his deputy Shane Watson is unbeaten on 13, although both batsmen were dropped before they reached double figures.

Clarke has been in sparkling touch despite coming into the match under an injury cloud after hurting his hamstring in last week's first Test win in Hobart.

In front of an appreciative crowd of 67,138 at the MCG, Johnson claimed 4-63 from 14 fiery overs and became the 14th Australian to reach the milestone of 200 Test wickets.

Johnson had claimed six wickets in his comeback Test against South Africa in Perth but was overlooked for the Hobart Test. The left-armer was hitting speeds around the 145km/h mark on Wednesday.

Johnson's fellow quicks Peter Siddle (2-30) and debutant Jackson Bird (2-32) also posed constant threats to the tourists.

Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 58 for Sri Lanka who chose to bat first.

When Sangakkara scored his 40th run, he became the 11th player in Test history and second Sri Lankan to reach the 10,000-mark.

Aggressive opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (11) was bowled by Johnson and Bird's alarming bounce caught Thilan Samaraweera (10) by surprise in the first over after lunch as the right-hander top-edged a pull-shot at 4-79.

The loose strokeplay of Dilshan and Samaraweera was repeated by Angelo Mathews (15) whose off-drive landed in the hands of Mike Hussey at second slip off the bowling of Siddle at 5-99.

Prasanna Jayawardene (24) edged a short ball to third slip off Johnson and was taken to hospital for x-rays which revealed a hairline fracture of the right thumb.

Stand-in wicketkeeper Sangakkara fumbled a diving attempt to catch Watson for five off the bowling of Chanaka Welegedara (0-36).

Australia's openers Ed Cowan and David Warner shared a 95-run stand dominated by Warner (62 off 46 balls) who had a lapse in concentration as he holed out to deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Mathews (1-9).

Phil Hughes was run out for 10 after a schoolboy mix-up with Cowan who fell for 36 in the next over, caught at second slip to the bowling of Dhammika Prasad (1-39).

AAP

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