Sri Lanka v Australia, 2016

At Colombo (SSC), August 13-17. Sri Lanka won by 163 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka.
Australia were far more competitive than in Galle, but still surrendered in dramatic fashion on the final day. It gave Sri Lanka a 3-0 sweep, and more laurels for Herath, who finished with two more five-fors, to take him to seventh on the all-time list with 26. There had been moments, particularly when Smith and the recalled Shaun Marsh were in the ascendant, when Australia's prospects looked brighter. But all came crashing down in the end, maintaining their diabolical form in Asia.

Mathews won his third consecutive toss and gave his batsmen first use of a pitch widely predicted to crumble. Within 17 overs the innings looked sickly, as Starc and Lyon worked in concert to reduce the hosts to 26 for five. But the series had shown that Australia were not so good at pressing home advantages, nor Sri Lanka so good at ceding them, as many had thought. And now Chandimal and de Silva combined for a tremendous stand of 211, blunting all, including an improved Holland. Even after de Silva exited for a beautifully crafted maiden Test hundred, Australia's frustrations continued, as Chandimal helped the last four add another precious 118.

By now, Sri Lanka were opening the bowling with spin at each end, though Australia were spared Herath until the eighth over; he had spent time off the field after a blow amidships while batting. Shaun Marsh and Smith each hit a century in a well-constructed alliance of 246, easily Australia's best of the series. But after Lakmal - Sri Lanka's fastest bowler here, though only the fifth used - coaxed Marsh to drag on, Herath began tearing through the ranks. Smith was the first of his six victims in a decline of nine for 112 when he was induced down the wicket and stumped by Kusal Perera, keeping in place of the tired Chandimal. Despite their start, Australia led by merely 24.

Their selectors had felt Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja needed to be replaced by fresher minds. But while Shaun Marsh proved a smart choice, the all-rounder Moises Henriques did not look technically or mentally ready. Meanwhile, Kaushal Silva displayed fortitude for the Australians to admire. Following scores of four, seven, five, two and nought, he crafted a handsome hundred to help Sri Lanka to a healthy lead. There was assistance down the order, and Mathews had the luxury of declaring early on the final morning, setting a healthy target of 324.

Warner made a sprightly start, but an Australian collapse seemed inevitable - and this time they slid from 77 without loss to 160 all out. Familiar dismissals added to the gallery of the grotesque: Smith missed a cut, while Voges played around another straight delivery. At least Warner provided variety, allowing Dilruwan Perera to bowl him behind his pads without offering a shot. The SSC crowd swelled in anticipation of victory, and were chanting Herath's name at the moment he sealed it with his 13th wicket in the match - the best haul for Sri Lanka against Australia, beating Muttiah Muralitharan's 11 for 212 at Galle in 2003-04. He now had more fourth-innings five-fors (eight) than any bowler in history (Muralitharan and Shane Warne took seven each), and it lifted his series haul to 28; fellow spinners Dilruwan Perera and Sandakan claimed another 24 between them. Smith was left to reflect on a first series defeat as Test captain, and the continuing Asian malaise. "It's been a very tough series again," he said. "What we are doing isn't working." He wasn't kidding.
Man of the Match: H. M. R. K. B. Herath. Man of the Series: H. M. R. K. B. Herath.