O'Keefe fires Aussies to crushing win over Sri Lankan XI

Melbourne, July 20 (ANI): Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe claimed a 10-wicket haul as Australia crushed Sri Lankan Board XI by an innings and 162 runs before lunch on the final day of the lone warm-up match here at the P. Saravanamuttu Stadium on Wednesday. O'Keefe scalped five for 21 in the second innings, including his 200th wicket in first-class cricket, to help his side bundle out the Lankans, who were already trailing by 245, for 83. The 31-year-old spinner also made significant contribution with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 78 in the match. Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc also chipped in with two wickets each for Australia, cricket.com.au reported. Sri Lankan batsmen Shehan Jayasuriya (29) and Asela Gunarathna (23) were the only batsmen to provide some resistance as they shared a modest 49-run partnership for the third wicket. The match also saw Australia's Jackson Bird post his highest first-class score of 32 in a 58-run stand as Australia made 474 in reply to Lanka's first innings score of 229 . The two sides will now head into the three-match Test series, starting at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium from July 26.(ANI)