GALLE, Sri Lanka - Australia beat Sri Lanka by 125 runs in the first test to take 1-0 lead in the three-match series and give former captain Ricky Ponting his 100th test victory.
Having to score 379 to win, Sri Lanka faced a much heavier defeat when it lost five wickets for 68 but Mahela Jayawardene scored a fighting 105 and shared a gritty 142-run partnership with Angelo Mathews (95).Mathews missed out on his maiden test century by five runs. Harris finished with 5-62.
Ponting is the first player in history to reach 100 test wins. Australia has the top seven most successful test players, with Shane Warne (92) and Steve Waugh (86) rounding out the top three.
Sri Lanka's captain Tillakaratne Dilshan blamed the defeat on his team's dismal first innings batting when it was bowled out for just 105.
Australia's team strong
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