Australia secures first test series win in Sri Lanka in 14 years

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Australia wrapped up a comprehensive 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka, sealing the second test with a commanding nine-wicket win in Galle on Sunday.

Top order batter Marnus Labuschagne flicked a delivery from retiring Sri Lankan player Dimuth Karunaratne to mid-wicket to complete the triumph, just 15 minutes before lunch on the fourth day.

It's Australia’s first test series win on Sri Lankan soil since 2011.

Their last success here came under Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, a 1-0 victory in 2011. However, they suffered a 3-0 whitewash in 2016 under Steve Smith’s leadership, and the 2022 series ended in a 1-1 draw. This time, with Smith standing in as captain for Pat Cummins, the victory was a welcome redemption.

“I thought it was a real good series and we played well from the outset,” said Australia captain Steve Smith, who was named Player of the Series after his consecutive hundreds. “Everyone had their methods and stuck to it over a long period of time and to score that many runs was great.

“All our spinners and lone quick Mitchell Starc did quite well. Been a great series win.”

Australia approached the series with meticulous planning — including a training camp in Dubai — and executed their strategies with precision.

Their batters laid the foundation with big hundreds, allowing the bowlers to dictate terms with attacking fields. Meanwhile, the spinners displayed remarkable discipline and variety, putting relentless pressure on Sri Lanka and paved the way for a resounding 2-0 series win.

The tourists had set the tone early, winning the first test by an innings and 242 runs – Sri Lanka’s heaviest ever test defeat. They remained clinical in the second match, ensuring there was no way back for the hosts.

Sri Lanka resumed Sunday on 211-8, holding a slender lead of just 54 runs, with much riding on vice-captain Kusal Mendis, who had remained unbeaten overnight.

Mendis brought up his second half-century in the game by guiding Nathan Lyon to deep cover but perished in the same over, caught at short square leg by Steve Smith.

The dismissal was a milestone moment – Smith’s 200th Test catch, a feat previously achieved by only four players: Jacques Kallis, Mahela Jayawardene, Rahul Dravid, and Joe Root.

Beau Webster wrapped up the innings soon after, leaving Australia with a modest target of 75 runs.

Sri Lanka briefly found hope when Prabath Jayasuriya removed Travis Head (20) early, caught behind. However, Usman Khawaja (27 not out) and Marnus Labuschagne (26 not out) calmly guided the visitors home with an unbroken 37-run stand.

Alex Carey was named Man of the Match for his outstanding 156 and four dismissals behind the stumps. His innings stands as the highest score by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia.

This victory marks Australia’s fourth consecutive test win, having also won the final two matches of its recent 3-1 home series against India. It plays South Africa in the final of the World Test Championship at Lords in June.

Sri Lanka slumped to its fourth straight defeat and marked a disappointing end for 36-year-old opener Karunaratne in his 100th and final test.

“Very emotional day for me. It has been a long career,” said Karunratne who scored 7,222 runs at 39.25 with 16 centuries. "When I started my cricket, I Just wanted to play one test match. To go onto play 100 Tests was amazing.

“Playing cricket for so long has been a privilege. I take my hat off to everyone who backed me.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Nathan Lyon appeals during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis celebrates his fifty runs during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's team members await a decision review during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Travis Head plays a shot during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Alex Carey breaks the wicket during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne plays a shot during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne plays a shot during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lankan players congratulate Dimuth Karunaratne who played his career last match at the end of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Fans watch the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's captain Steven Smith poses with the Warn-Muralitharan trophy at the end of second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva congratulates Australia's Marnus Labuschagne for their win during day four of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's team members pose with the Warn-Muralitharan trophy at the end of second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday U.S. President Donald Trump will ultimately respect Canada’s sovereignty and be ready for comprehensive trade talks because Americans are going to suffer from Trump's trade war.

Carney said talks with Trump will not happen “until we get the respect we deserve as a sovereign nation. By the way, this is not a high bar.”

Trump kept up his near-daily attacks on Canada on Friday, repeating that the country should be the 51st state and that the U.S. keeps Canada “afloat.”

“When I say they should be a state, I mean that,” the American president said.

Carney met with Canada’s provincial leaders at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, where he announced relief packages for workers and businesses hurt by the trade war and announced moves to expedite resource projects.

Carney, sworn in last Friday, still hasn’t had a phone call with Trump. Trump mocked Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, by calling him Governor Trudeau, but he has not yet mentioned Carney’s name.

The new prime minister said he wants a comprehensive discussion on trade and security with the Americans and not a one-off tariff discussion.

“In the end, Americans are going to lose from American trade action and that’s one of the reasons I am confident that there will be that discussion with the appropriate amount of respect and the breadth," Carney said. “I am ready for it anytime they are ready.”

Trump put 25% tariffs on Canada’s steel and aluminum and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products as well as all of America's trading partners on April 2.

Carney became Prime Minister after winning a Liberal Party leadership race triggered by Trudeau’s decision to step down earlier this year. He's expected to trigger the process for early parliamentary elections this Sunday, with a vote expected before April 28.

The governing Liberals appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared a trade war and upended Canadian politics.

The almost daily attacks on Canada’s sovereignty have infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trips south of the border and avoiding buying American goods when they can. The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered Liberal poll numbers.

Carney said the premiers of Canada's provinces had agreed to work on a plan to develop a national trade and energy corridor in an effort to diversify trade.

He said that could mean a oil pipeline from oil-rich Alberta to Eastern Canada. Quebec has previously opposed a pipeline, but Premier François Legault now says opinions are changing because of Trump's threats. Carney said Quebec uses about 350,000 barrels of oil daily and 70% of that comes from the U.S.

“That is not a good idea for us at all. So there is an opportunity to put a pipeline there but we need social acceptance. We need a partnership with indigenous people as well," Carney said.

He said the federal government would speed up projects by recognizing provincial assessments. Canadian leaders also talked about about moving quickly to eliminate trade barriers between provinces and with the federal government.

Carney also said Ottawa is also going to waive the one-week waiting period to get employment insurance for people whose jobs are cut because of the tariffs, and temporarily allow Canadian businesses to defer income tax and sales tax payments to help boost their liquidity.

Prime Minister Mark Carney holds a press conference following the First Ministers Meeting at the National War Museum on Friday, March 21, 2025. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press via AP)