Aussies claim series

Kumar Sangrakara of Sri Lanka © Getty Images

Australia completed a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka after winning the second Test at the Bellerive Oval by 96 runs despite a battling 192 from Kumar Sangakkara.

The tourists were all-out for 410 after reaching lunch on the final day 391 for nine after battling through the first session for the loss six wickets.

But Brett Lee claimed the final wicket of Muttiah Muralitharan (15) shortly after the re-start to hand Australia a 14th straight Test victory.

Lee finished with innings figures of 4-87, while Mitchell Johnson chipped in with 3-101 off 28 overs.

The tourists began the day 247 for three needing a further 260 to compete a record fourth inning chase.

But Lee, after switching to over the wicket, was the first to strike in the fourth over of the day as he forced Sanath Jayasuriya (45) to flick an attempted cut shot to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, who expertly held the low catch.

Two overs later, with seven runs added to the total by Sangakkara, Chamara Silva edged a short-of-length delivery from Johnson to Ricky Ponting and he headed back to the pavilion without troubling the scorer to leave Sri Lanka 272 for five.

Prasanna Jayawardene fell with the next ball as the wicketkeeper attempted to leave a shaping ball from Johnson, but watched as the ball struck his pad on route for the top of off stump.

Two overs and 12 runs later, Farveez Maharoof (four) mis-timed a short ball from Stuart McGill and Lee was on hand to make the catch after back pedalling from mid-on.

After Sangakkara carted McGill over mid-wicket for four with the last ball of the over, substitute fielder Rhett Lockyear chased down a drive through mid-wicket from Dilhara Fernando as the Sri Lankan bowler turned for a third.

Stuart Clark eventually claimed Sangakkara © Getty Images

Lockyear fired into the bowlers end and Fernando (two) was run-out despite questions whether Lee broke the stumps while in possession of the ball.

Sangakkara brought up his 150 in 246 balls with his 20th four of the innings at the end of the 88th over off a full length delivery from Clark.

But his valiant effort ended controversially just before lunch as a short ball from Clark struck him on the shoulder and then helmet as he attempted a pull shot.

The ball popped up to Ponting at second slip before Rudi Koertzen brought an end to Sangakkara's knock and 74-run partnership with Lasith Malinga to the disgust of the Sri Lanka batsman with 143 runs still required with just one wicket remaining.

Sri Lanka reached lunch after Malinga provided some late resistence with back-to-back sixes off Clark to quickly move onto 32 off 50 balls, with Muralitharan unbeaten on seven.

But a ball after Muralitharan heaved Lee over thirdman for six, the tourists battling resilience was finally ended as the Sri Lanka spinner was bowled by Lee in just the second over after lunch after playing across the line to the explosive seamer.

Malinga was left unbeaten on 42 off 58 balls after plundering five fours and three sixes.

Meanwhile former Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu has announced his retirement from international cricket.

The 36-year-old revealed his decision during the final day of the second Test against Australia.

Atapattu had not originally been selected for the tour of Australia and was only called up after representation by the country's sports minister.

He had been out of international cricket for almost two years. He played 90 Test matches and 268 one-day internationals.