e defender a first yellow card, and debutant Antonio Luna

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has said Kusal Mendis 176 in Pallekele was the performance upon which the series against Australia pivoted.Mendis had come to the crease with Sri Lanka still 80 runs behind, and already two second-innings wickets down. But his faultless innings spurred a middle-order resurgence, and Sri Lanka posted a score of 353, on a quickly wearing track. Australia fell well short of the target of 268. Sri Lanka then won the Galle Test in under three days, and were dominant through the back end of the SSC match.The key point I thought was Kusal Mendis innings - that was the turnaround for the whole series after getting all out for 117 at Pallekele, Mathews said. It was a special effort by him to get us on to a winning track. From there onwards it really kicked off. The confidence levels were sky high from there. We worked very hard and actually we worked harder than the first two Tests ahead of the third Test as we were desperate to finish this 3-0.Despite having top-scored in each of the first two Tests, Mendis was the second-highest run-scorer in the series, surpassed by 24-year-old Dhananjaya de Silva, who collected 325 runs at an average of 65. Mendis, however, had only scored one first-class century before this series, and had been picked almost solely on potential, when he initially made the Test team last October.Its just pure talent, with the young batsmen, Mathews said. I suppose Dhananjaya has played a bit of first-class cricket, but Kusal Mendis hasnt. Weve got to take that chance with some people sometimes, and its paid off. You can see the way they batted in extreme conditions - it was turning square. They had Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, and Steve OKeefe in the first game. Mitchell Starc has been outstanding in the last three or four weeks as well. The calmness and composure of Dhananjaya at No. 7 was great. He handled that pressure well. Kusal Perera also played some brisk knocks, so the future is bright.Rangana Herath, however, was Sri Lankas key performer in the series. He claimed 28 wickets at an average of 12.75. Only Muttiah Muralitharan has taken more wickets for Sri Lanka in a single series - against Zimbabwe in 2001. Herath had also been visibly hampered by a groin injury during the SSC Test, in which he took 13 for 145.Rangana was fantastic, Mathews said. He was bowling off one leg, but one leg was enough for him. He got hit while batting and then he had a groin strain. He couldnt run and he couldnt jump. He was just landing the ball on one leg, and he is unbelievable. He has taken 28 wickets in the series and is one of the best I have seen. The batsmen are having a nightmare facing him no matter how well they play spin. He has been a great team man as well.Herath himself said that he did not envision a whitewash against Australia, prior to the series. He echoed Mathews praise of Mendis and de Silva, but also had encouraging words for left-arm wristspinner Lakshan Sandakan, who took nine wickets at an average of 23 across the three Tests - though, he did not get a breakthrough at the SSC.Sandakan had a good game at Pallekele, Herath said. What I believe is, that when you have three spinners, all three are not going to get wickets in the same game. It will vary. He is a very good bowler. He has to also learn a few things - like control. I am pretty sure that he will learn quickly, and become a very good bowler.Ozzie Smith Jersey Large . With his new coach and six-time Grand Slam singles champion Boris Becker watching him during an official match for the first time, Djokovic appeared tentative early against the Slovakian player, who often appeared content to keep the ball in play. 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The native of Mont-Tremblant, Que., captured a World Cup downhill event Saturday, his second this year and fifth career victory on the circuit.MANCHESTER, England -- Aston Villa compounded the simmering frustration at Arsenal by winning 3-1 at Emirates Stadium on Saturday while Liverpool rode its luck to also start the new Premier League season with a victory. Christian Benteke scored twice as Villa came from behind to beat Arsenal, which was booed off by home fans already aggrieved at manager Arsene Wengers failure to strengthen the squad in the summer transfer window. Liverpool striker Luis Suarez -- Arsenals main target in the off-season -- was in the stands because of suspension as his team defeated Stoke 1-0 thanks to Daniel Sturridges 37th-minute goal, although it needed debutant Simon Mignolets late penalty save to preserve the lead. West Ham, Southampton and Fulham also started with wins, while Norwich drew 2-2 with Everton after Ricky van Wolfswinkels equalizer on his competitive debut. Manchester United begins the defence of its title at Swansea later Saturday, with unsettled striker Wayne Rooney starting on the bench. Its a case of new season, same old story for Arsenal, whose defensive shortcomings were capped by centre back Laurent Koscielnys second-half sending-off for two yellow cards. Wengers team is unlikely to be challenging for the title this season unless the club, which is awash with cash, can recruit some marquee names to add to a squad that the French manager acknowledged on Friday was threadbare. Wenger was hit with chants including "You dont know what youre doing" and "Spend some (expletive) money" minutes before the final whistle. Olivier Giroud gave Arsenal the lead in the sixth minute but Benteke, who withdrew a transfer request over the summer, equalized in the 22nd when he headed home a rebound after his penalty was saved by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.dddddddddddd The Belgium striker then converted a 66th-minute penalty following Koscielnys clumsy foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor, earning the defender a first yellow card, and debutant Antonio Luna sealed the points in the 85th for Villa by racing clear on the break to score in the bottom corner. It was a much more positive start to the campaign by Liverpool, who dominated against Stoke but only had Sturridges 25-yard strike to show for its efforts. That profligacy almost cost them when Daniel Agger handballed in the area in the 88th minute but Mignolet ended a nervy debut by clawing away Jon Walters spot kick and then denying Kenwyne Jones effort on the rebound. Suarez, who was serving the fifth match of a 10-game ban for biting an opponent last season, was cheered by some fans as he walked the perimeter of the Anfield pitch with his daughter before kickoff despite an off-season dominated by transfer speculation surrounding the striker. The scorer of Englands winner over Scotland on Wednesday on his international debut, Rickie Lambert completed the perfect week by converting a last-minute penalty for Southampton in a 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion. Goals either side of the break by Joe Cole and Kevin Nolan were enough for West Ham in a 2-0 home win over promoted Cardiff and Pajtim Kasami grabbed a 52nd-minute winner for Fulham in a 1-0 victory at Paolo Di Canios Sunderland. Norwich went ahead at Carrow Road through Steven Whittaker before goals by Ross Barkley and Seamus Coleman in a five-minute span gave Everton the lead by the 65th minute. Van Wolfswinkel levelled in the 71st. ' ' '