Australia's four branched pace attack overcame spirited fighting from Lahiru Thirimanne and Mahela Jayawardene before Bowled Sri Lanka for 294 runs to bring an end to the opening day of the 3rd Test on Thursday.
Both Thirimanne, who made a career best 91 runs just three days after joining the squad as an emergency replacement, and skipper Jayawardene, who scored 72 runs in his penultimate innings as captain, exposed to make a sunny day in Sydney their own.
Australia skipper Michael Clarke's choice on winning the toss to send his pacemen out to bowl first was all but vindicated and the hosts will have finished the day convinced they can wrap up the series 3-0.
Jackson Bird, the least knowledgeable of the pace quartet, took 4 for 41, Mitchell Starc 3 for 71 and Peter Siddle claimed a brace with spinner Nathan Lyon pitching in to end Thirimanne's knock just shy of his 1st Test century.
Thirimanne reached his 2nd Test half century with a cover drive off Mitchell Johnson for three runs and, punishing any loose deliveries, cracked 13 fours and a six in his 151-ball knock.
The 26-year-old, who take four wickets in an inspiring Test debut in Melbourne last week, also removed tailender Rangana Herath (5) before closing the Sri Lanka innings with his fourth victim.
Michael Hussey, playing in his last Test before retirement, got a huge cheer when bowled two overs before tea but he was unable to snare what would have been a popular wicket to add to his three catches in the field.
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