Oz in driver’s seat after Johnson rips apart Lankan batting in Boxing Day Test

Mitchell-JohnsonSydney, Dec 26 : Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson claimed four crucial wickets as Sri Lanka was bowled out for a measly 156 on the first day of the second Test match in Melbourne before the hosts reached 3-150 at stumps.

Captain Michael Clarke is 20 not out and his deputy Shane Watson is unbeaten on 13, although both batsmen were dropped before they reached double figures, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

In front of an appreciative crowd of 67,138 at the MCG, Johnson claimed 4-63 from 14 fiery overs and became the 14th Australian to reach the milestone of 200 Test wickets, it added.

Johnson's fellow fast bowlers Peter Siddle (2-30) and debutant Jackson Bird (2-32) also posed constant threats to the tourists, the paper said. Kumar Sangakkara top-scored for Sri Lanka with 58 for Sri Lanka who chose to bat first.

When Sangakkara scored his 40th run, he became the 11th player in Test history and second Sri Lankan to reach the 10,000-mark.

Australia's openers Ed Cowan and David Warner shared a 95-run stand dominated by Warner (62 off 46 balls) who had a lapse in concentration as he holed out to deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Mathews (1-9). (ANI)