Sri Lanka Vs Australia Highlights, 2nd Test: Smith, Carey bag tons; AUS lead by 73 runs vs SL

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE: Not good signs for Sri Lanka, too many loose deliveries, too many boundaries. The run rate has bloomed to over 4 runs per over, and the deficit grows smaller and smaller. About damage limitation now?

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE: Death, taxes, Steven Smith scoring bulk runs. When he is in form, it is an inevitability. Sweeps to the boundary for four, and gets another half-century. Has looked rock-solid throughout.

A couple of big hits in the last couple of overs and the deficit continues to shrink as the runs ebbs away at the hosts. 148/3, SL's lead down to 109.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE: Into the 35th over of the innings now. It was at this stage of the first innings that Lyon and Kuhnemann really pumped the brakes on Sri Lanka by taking 4 wickets for just 34 runs.

Sri Lanka need someone to do the same for them, but it's a little too easy for Australia right now. Field is spread and runs are coming, even for the new batter. Little bit more energy needed from the hosts.

126/3.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCOR: Khawaja's wicket fell just before Josh Inglis was allowed to bat, given he was off the field for long portions of day one. This means Alex Carey earns a promotion up to number five.

Carey has consistently batted lower than his quality indicates he should. A good player of spin as well, a crucial partnership for Australia now.

AUS onto 104/3.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: There is the wicket that the Lankans wanted, and Joel Wilson gets it right this time! The key man Khawaja, 232 in the last match, misses a relative long hop entirely. He tries to play across the line, but it skids on to trap him. Nishan with his second wicket of the innings, and the partnership is broken.

91/3, ideal for Sri Lanka after lunch.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Almost another breakthrough for SL as the umpire awards a wicket for LBW, but Smith is quick to review. It's a good call too: he shuffled a fair way outside off stump, and the impact was outside the line. Smith survives.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Here we go again for the afternoon session. Plenty could happen as the sun beats down and cracks begin to open up throughout the day. Who's your money on?

Smith batting on 23*, Khawaja on 34*, their partnership two runs from 50.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: The game turned on day one after Nathan Lyon came in for a phenomenal spell of bowling in the afternoon session, bursting through the Sri Lankan top order and restricting their first innings total.

With Khawaja and Smith looking set and positive at the crease, it will require a similar effort from the hosts' spinners, otherwise this match could quickly get out of control.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Australia enjoying that similar pre-20th over period where the ball is still hard enough to find runs, putting on the runs quickly. Sri Lanka's spinners still finding purchase, though, and it won't be too long before one of these deliveries breaks through one of this pair.

At the lunch break, a split session, AUS 85/2 and trailing by 172.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Khawaja and Smith both batting with some positivity, deciding that counter-attack and going for runs is just as safe as trying to block it out on this surface.

Khawaja with a crisp reverse sweep, and after drinks AUS bring up their 50. Now 56/2, trailing by 201.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Important wickets for Sri Lanka! First, Dhananjaya da Silva gets Travis Head to nick one to slip, before Jayasuriya slides one with the arm and raps Labuschagne on the pads for three reds.

37/2, just the start SL wanted.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Comfortable, confident start by Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, with the field already somewhat spread out and the spinners in action. Sri Lanka waiting forsomething to swing in their favour soon,

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Fast start against the pacers essential for Australia here before Sri Lanka's spinners can try and wrestle back into it. Exactly the man you would want out these in that situation in Travis Head — cuts well for four runs to get started.

8/0 after 1.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Australia do finally wrap up the innings, Lahiru Kumara fending at one and edging it to Beau Webster at slip, who takes a good sharp catch.

Kusal stranded on 85*, fine effort from him while batting almost entirely with the tail.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Some crucial quick morning runs from the bat of Kusal Mendis. All these are bonus runs for Sri Lanka, who have reached 250. Kusal Mendis onto 82*.

Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Day 2 of the second and final Test of the series between Sri Lanka and Australia. The visitors produced a strong performance with the ball yet again, dislodging nine Sri Lankan wickets on Day 1; Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets so far. For Sri Lanka, Dinesh Chandimal came to the rescue yet again after the batting order faltered, scoring 74. Kusal Mendis also stepped up with tailenders, and remains unbeaten on 59.