Australia's Starc bags 100 Test wickets

Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc on Thursday bagged his 100th Test wicket during his team's second match against Sri Lanka in Galle.

Starc dismissed the in-form Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis, to the reach the milestone in the second session of the opening day's play.

The left-arm pacer, who also snared opener Dimuth Karunaratne with the first ball of the match, is the 37th Australian bowler to reach a century of Test wickets.

The 26-year-old speedster from New South Wales, who is playing in his 27th Test, made his debut against New Zealand in 2011. He has also taken 98 wickets in 51 one-day internationals.

Lunch

Mendis notched up his second successive fifty-plus score against Australia to help Sri Lanka overcome a wobbly start and reach 109 for two at lunch.

Mitchell Starc's two-wicket burst left the hosts reeling at nine for two inside five overs after home captain Angelo Mathews had won the toss and opted to bat on Galle's spinner-friendly surface.

The visitors did not get another opportunity, however, in the morning session to celebrate as Mendis (52 not out) forged a 100-run partnership with namesake Kusal Perera (47 not out) to rebuild the Sri Lanka innings.

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis raises his bat as he celebrates scoring 50 runs during the first day of the second Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia at The Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on August 4, 2016. (AFP)

Mendis, the architect of Sri Lanka's 106-run victory in the opening test at Pallekele, hit six boundaries and a couple off sixes during his fluent knock.

Left-arm paceman Starc gave Australia a dream start by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne for a first ball duck with a half-volley which the batsman managed to hit straight to Joe Burns at mid-wicket.

Fellow opener Kaushal Silva (five) also fell to a innocuous Starc delivery, playing far away from his body to get a edge behind to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

Mendis and Perera then joined hands to stage a brilliant recovery, finding boundaries regularly.

Mendis slog-swept Lyon for his first six and hit the off-spinner for another in his next over.

Jon Holland, making his test debut for Australia, impressed with his flight and loop but will have to wait for his maiden Test wicket.

The left-arm spinner came close to success when Perera hit him over deep mid-wicket and Lyon ran to his right, leapt and caught the ball before pushing it back into the field as momentum took him over the ropes.

Vishwa Fernando also made his Test debut for Sri Lanka, replacing injured paceman Nuwan Pradeep.

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