Cricket: Aussies win Hobart test

An unsourced report on cricinfo said Sri Lankan officials were concerned by footage of Australian paceman Peter Siddle, who took 5-54. Photo / AP

Pacemen Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle have claimed nine wickets to bowl Australia to a 137-run victory late on day five of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Tuesday.

Siddle (4-50) posted match figures of 9-104 while left-armer Starc (5-63) produced his second five-wicket haul in consecutive Tests.

Starc sliced through the tail as Sri Lanka lost 6-54 to be all out for 255 with 10.4 overs remaining after the home side had set a victory target of 393.

Australia's 137-run win came under duress with pace bowler Ben Hilfenhaus out of action after breaking down with a side strain during Sri Lanka's first innings.

The victory was also achieved with skipper Michael Clarke hobbling around at first slip after injuring a hamstring while batting in Australia's second innings.

Hilfenhaus has already been ruled out of the second Test starting on Boxing Day in Melbourne while Clarke is in doubt.

Sri Lanka had resumed on their overnight score of 2-65.

Siddle made the only breakthrough of the opening session when Michael Clarke completed a brilliant low catch at first slip despite nursing a hamstring injury to dismiss rival captain Mahela Jayawardene for 19.

Kumar Sangakkara was LBW to Shane Watson on 54 but the decision was overturned on appeal. However the star left-hander had no such luck on 63 when Siddle trapped him leg-before and this time the third umpire upheld the original decision.

Sri Lanka were looking safe at tea at 4-186 but Siddle struck in the 98th and 102nd overs to remove Angelo Mathews (19) and Thilan Samaraweera (49).

Starc stepped up in Australia's hour of need to claim the wickets of wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (21) and tailenders Nuwan Kulasekara (nine) and Rangana Herath (eight) who failed to keep out a yorker at 9-250.

Shaminda Eranga was last man out, caught behind off Starc at 6.04pm (AEDT).

Spinner Nathan Lyon, who was unable to bowl Australia to victory on day five of the Adelaide Test against South Africa last month, had no impact on Tuesday with figures of 0-57 from 32 overs.

- AAP