DARWIN, July 3: Michael Kasprowicz bagged seven wickets and fired Australia to a 149-run win over Sri Lanka on Saturday, wrapping up victory inside three days on a suspect wicket in the first Test of the two-match series.

Right-arm seamer Kasprowicz took seven for 39 from 17.4 overs as Sri Lanka, chasing a daunting target of 312 in a low-scoring game, were bowled out for 162.

Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera put on 79 for the fourth wicket but the last seven batsmen went for only 53.

Sri Lanka coach John Dyson struggled to contain his disappointment at the standard of the wicket.

Sri Lanka lost their first wicket with the total on 23, captain Marvan Atapattu caught at slip by Shane Warne off Kasprowicz for 10.

Man-of-the-Match Glenn McGrath, who took five wickets in the first innings, kept the pressure on with two for 24 from 16 frugal overs.

Kumar Sangakkara was run out for a duck and Sanath Jayasuriya was leg before wicket to McGrath for 16 as Sri Lanka lost three wickets for seven runs at Marrara Oval in the Northern Territory capital.

Going to lunch at 50 for three, Sri Lanka fought back through Jayawardene and Samaraweera before both fell in quick succession midway through the second session.

Samaraweera was caught behind off Kasprowicz for 32 and Jayawardene bowled by McGrath for 44.

Russel Arnold was out six minutes before tea, caught behind off Kasprowicz for 11 with the score 132 for six.

Kasprowicz struck four more times after tea, removing Tillekeratne Dilshan for 14, Upul Chandana for 17 and Nuwan Zoysa for one. Lasith Malinga was out next ball for a duck, caught behind to give Gilchrist his fifth catch of the innings.

Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne took 0-61 in the second innings after his three-wicket haul in the first innings and needs a further eight wickets to break Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's world mark of 527 wickets.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 207 (D.S. Lehmann 57; W.P.U.J.C. Vaas 5-31).

SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 97 (G.D. McGrath 5-37).

AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings) 201 (A.C. Gilchrist 80; D.S. Lehmann 51; S.L. Malinga 4-).

SRI LANKA (2nd Innings):

M.S. Atapattu c Warne b Kas'wicz 10

S.T. Jayasuriya lbw b McGrath 16

K.C. Sangakkara run out 0

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene b McGrath 44

T.T. Samaraweera c G'rist b Kas'wicz 32

T.M. Dilshan c G'rist b Kas'wicz 14

R.P. Arnold c G'rist b Kas'wicz 11

U.D.U. Chandana b Kas'wicz 17

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas not out 10

D.N.T. Zoysa c G'rist b Kas'wicz 1

S.L. Malinga c G'rist b Kas'wicz 0

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-2, NB-4) 7

TOTAL (all out, 65.4 overs) 162

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-23, 3-30, 4-109, 5-113, 6-132, 7-141, 8-152, 9-162.

BOWLING: McGrath 16-9-24-2 (1nb, 1w); Gillespie 13-2-37-0 (1w); Kasprowicz 17.4-3-39-7 (3nb); Warne 19-2-61-0.

SECOND TEST: Cairns, July 9-13.-Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...