Harris leaves Sri Lanka reeling

Three quick wickets shortly before tea nipped Sri Lanka's recovery in the bud in the second Test against Australia in Kandy.

The hosts won the toss but were reduced to 150 for eight at tea as Ryan Harris took three for 23.

Having been bowled out for just 105 first time around in Galle, which proved crucial in a 125-run defeat, Sri Lanka were threatening a similar collapse in Kandy and at one point were 76 for five.

They lost both openers inside the first six overs, Tharanga Paranavitana edging Harris behind without scoring and captain Tillakaratne Dilshan losing his off stump while shouldering arms to Trent Copeland.

Mahela Jayawardene was next to fall two overs later, a stunning catch from Mike Hussey giving Copeland his second victim, before Sri Lanka threatened a recovery.

Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera added 43 for the fourth wicket before Harris removed the latter courtesy of an inside edge through to Brad Haddin.

And Prasanna Jayawardene completed a miserable session for his side when, having already smashed Nathan Lyon for a six and a four in the penultimate over before lunch, he misjudged another big hit and top-edged to Harris at deep square leg.

Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews steadied the ship for much of the afternoon in a stand of 52. But the former's vigil was then ended two runs short of 50 by a loose push to short cover, where Phil Hughes' low catch earned occasional medium-pacer Hussey just his third wicket in 61 Tests.

Suraj Randiv skipped down the track to hit Lyon for four but again the spinner responded well, snaffling a simple return catch two balls later.

Mathews launched another six off Lyon and Sri Lanka reached 150 when debutant leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna pulled Johnson for a single. But he was almost immediately cleaned up by a Harris inswinger, having made five.