Perera zooms into record books

Sri Lankan spinner Dilruwan Perera claimed a couple of slices of history as Sri Lanka closed out a crushing a crushing series victory over the number-one ranked Australians in Galle.

With the wicket of Josh Hazlewood half an hour into the second session on the third day of the second Test, Perera picked up his sixth wicket for the innings to become the first Sri Lankan to claim 10 wickets and score a 50 in the same match, after his 64 in the second innings. 

The second-innings haul was also the fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket for Perera, to go along with figures of 4-29 in the first innings.

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To cap off a man-of-the-match performance, Perera also became the fastest Sri Lankan player to reach 50 Test wickets when he sent counterpart Nathan Lyon on his way late on Friday evening.

It has taken the crafty off-spinner just 11 matches to notch the milestone, one Test faster than Ajantha Mendis and two quicker than bowling greats Lasith Malinga, Muthiah Muralidaran and Chaminda Vaas.

While Perera claimed just one wicket in his side's thumping first Test win at Pallekele Stadium, the 34-year-old has bounced back to leave the Australian line-up in ruins with a Test still to play.

The key wickets of David Warner, Steve Smith and Voges in the morning session all-but destroyed any hope of Australia keeping the series alive.

"Dilruwan has been superb this Test match," champion spinner Rangana Herath told media after play last night.

"We have four spinners and when you have four spinners one guy might give away runs, but you need to have confidence to have on all bowlers.

"(Lakshan) Sandakan did his 100 per cent in Pallekele and today it was Dilruwan's turn. We are contributing always."

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Perera also collected his second Test half-century on day two, with his knock of 64 almost certainly extending the home side's lead well beyond the reach of the touring Australians.

The all-round display sees Perera join Rumesh Ratnayake, Vaas (on two occasions) and Malinga as the only players from the island nation to score a fifty and claim a five-wicket haul in the same Test.

Perera finished with match figures of 10-99, beating his previous Test best of 8-129 against South Africa in Colombo two years ago.

Fastest to 50 Test wickets

Charlie Turner (AUS) – 6 Tests

Tom Richardson (ENG) - 7

Vernon Philander (SA) - 7

Fred Spofforth (AUS) – 8

Alf Valentine (WI) – 8

Rodney Hogg (AUS) – 8

Terry Alderman (AUS) - 8

For Sri Lanka

Dilruwan Perera – 11 Tests

Ajantha Mendis – 12

Lasith Malinga – 13

Muthiah Muralidaran – 13

Chaminda Vaas – 13