1st Test, Day 1: Steve Smith-led Australia in driver's seat after bowling out Sri Lanka for 117

Pallekele: Steve Smith and his men started their journey in Sri Lanka on an expected note by dominating Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Soon after Angelo Mathews opted to bat first after winning toss, the smiles from the faces of the local spectators disappeared, as Australian bowlers wreaked havoc at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Making a comeback to Tests after recovering from injury, Mitchell Starc got the first breakthrough for Australia as he trapped Dimuth Karunaratne (5) in front of the wicket in the fifth over. It was the start of a huge batting collapse as none of the Sri Lankan batsmen could put a fight on their home soil.

Even the likes of Angelo Mathews (15) and Dinesh Chandimal (15) failed to rebuild the innings with a big knock.

While Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon picked three wickets each, Mitchell Starc and debutant Steve O'Keefe scalped two wickets apiece.

In reply, even Australia got off to a disastrous start after David Warner (0) and Joe Burns (3) were back in the hut with just seven runs on board.

That was the end of the celebrations for the Lankans as Usman Khawaja (25*) and Steve Smith (28*) resurrected the innings with an unbeaten 59-run stand for the third-wicket partnership.

While the players left for tea, the play couldn't resume as persistent rain washed out the remaining overs.