HOBART, Australia (AFP) — Pacemen Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc bowled Australia to victory over Sri Lanka in the first Hobart Test yesterday, claiming six wickets in the final session for a thrilling win.

The Sri Lankans had looked to be holding on for a draw until Siddle and Starc struck to secure Australia’s first win of the home season, after losing to South Africa 1-0 in the recent three-Test series.

Starc claimed the last four wickets to end with 5-63, while Siddle was named Man of the Match after his 4-50 gave him nine wickets for the match.

Australia found it hard going to gouge out the batsmen on a fifth-day pitch until the wickets tumbled in the final two hours.

“We knew we had to be patient,” said captain Michael Clarke. “No doubt I was confident that if we could bowl the balls in the right area for a long period of time, we would have success.

“It was going to be a day’s work to get so many good batsmen out, but take nothing away from the bowlers.

“They had to execute their plans and their skills. Reverse swing was always going to be vital in this game and we’ve got three of the best reverse swing bowlers in the world in Sids (Siddle), Shane (Watson) and Starcy (Starc).”

Australia got the wicket of captain Mahela Jayawardene before lunch, Kumar Sangakkara in the middle session and the remaining six wickets in the final session after the tourists had appeared headed for a morale-boosting draw.

“[We’re disappointed that we lost the game. It was a tough Test match in the sense that we were chasing the game probably after the third or fourth day: But we kept fighting, especially in the first innings,” Jayawardene said.