Australia clinch series

Shane Warne spun Australia to a series-clinching 27 run victory over Sri Lanka on the fifth and final day of the second Test on Saturday. The leg spinner snapped up five for 90 as Sri Lanka, who started the day needing 51 runs with three wickets remaining having been set an improbable 352-run victory target, were bowled out for 324 in 73.1 overs. With the win, Australia have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series giving Ricky Ponting his first series win as Test captain.

The 34-year-old Warne finished with 10 for 155 in the match, his second consecutive 10-wicket haul in his second game back for the national side after a 12-months drugs ban. Warne extended his series tally to 20 wickets at 15.7 and his career haul to 511 scalps, giving him a chance of breaking Courtney Walsh8217;s 519-wicket world record during the third and final Test next week.

Brief scores: Australia: 120 and 442 Gilchrist 144, Martyn 161, Muralitharan 5/173 vs Sri Lanka 211 and 324 Jayasuriya 131, Vaas 45, Warne 5/90