Stunning Cummins spell rocks Sri Lankans

A stunning spell of pace bowling from Pat Cummins left Sri Lanka reeling at 74 for five at tea on the third day of the first Test in Brisbane on Saturday.

Cummins, who dismissed Dimuth Karunaratne on the last ball of the day on Friday, took the first three Sri Lankan wickets to fall in Saturday's opening session.

Lahiru Thirimanne, playing his first Test since 2017, was not out 31 at the break with Niroshan Dickwella on three.

Cummins was irresistible in the opening session, bowling seven overs straight with great venom and immaculate control.

He snared Dinesh Chandimal with the second ball of his first over, the Sri Lankan captain edging a ball that leapt off a good length to Kurtis Patterson in the gully.

Kusal Mendis (1) replaced his skipper at the crease but lasted just seven balls before he launched an ambitious drive off Cummins, only to edge the ball to Joe Burns at second slip.

The Sri Lankans were reeling at 18 for three but Roshan Silva dug in with Thirimanne.

The pair took