Australia vs Sri Lanka first Test Archives

Persistent rain halts Sri Lanka Test as Australia tighten grip

Incessant afternoon rain forced an early end to day three of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka on Friday, with the visitors leading by 518 and former home skipper Dinesh Chandimal waging a lone battle on 63.

Sri Lanka were 136-5 by lunch in Galle, with wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis also at the crease on 10, after losing two more wickets from their overnight 44-3.

The break was called early and players were kept off the pitch through the afternoon, with officials calling an end 90 minutes before the scheduled finish.

Kamindu Mendis departed for 15 after an edge to the keeper off Mitchell Starc, further denting the Bradman-like average he maintained at the start of his Test comeback last year.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva looked comfortable before rushing down the track to Matthew Kuhnemann and missing the ball completely, gifting Alex Carey a regulation stumping and leaving for 22.

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Left-arm speedster Starc expertly created rough patches outside the off stump, while Nathan Lyon relentlessly probed away from the other end.

Dinesh Chandimal, who was promoted to the crucial number three position last year and has since averaged over 50, stood firm despite the uphill battle to avoid the follow-on.

Australia declared on 654-6 late on the second day after opener Usman Khawaja’s career-best 232.

The opening day saw stand-in skipper Steve Smith join the elite club of 10,000 career Test run-makers, the fifteenth player and fourth Australian to reach the milestone.

Picturesque Galle will also host the second and final match of the series next week before a two-match ODI series in Colombo.

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Sri Lanka lose three wickets after Australia declare on 654-6

Australia had Sri Lanka three down after opener Usman Khawaja first double century and a ton on debut by Josh Inglis helped the tourists to 654-6 declared in the first match on Thursday.

Sri Lanka were 44-3 by stumps on day two at Galle with senior batter Dinesh Chandimal, on nine, and Kamindu Mendis, on 13, on guard until rain stopped play.

Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann struck first to have Oshada Fernando lbw and soon pace spearhead Mitchell Starc got Dimuth Karunaratne caught at gully. Both batsmen made seven.

Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon then sent back former skipper Angelo Mathews out for eight with Travis Head taking a diving catch at short leg.

Khawaja’s 266-run third-wicket partnership with Steve Smith, who hit 141 in a landmark innings that got the stand-in skipper to 10,000 Test runs, stood out after Australia elected to bat first at the start of the two-match series.

It was the first time the tourists had breached the 600-run mark in Sri Lanka, surpassing their previous Asian high of 617, posted in Pakistan in 1980.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey was unbeaten on 46 with Starc on 19 when Smith declared the first innings in the final session.

Inglis made it count when he walked in after Smith departed on 141 in a landmark innings that got the stand-in skipper to 10,000 Test runs.

He made 102 and with Khawaja kept up the batting surge in a 146-run stand to tire out the opposition attack.

“Hasn’t sunk in yet,” Inglis told reporters. “Nice to get the team into a very strong position.

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“Obviously having played in the sub-continent helps. The training camp in Dubai was really key. We were able to work out our individual plans. If you see all our guys had clear plans.”

Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya broke the partnership to get Khawaja caught behind as the opener walked back after 352 balls that included 16 fours and one six.

Inglis reached his ton off 90 balls as he jumped in delight and punched the air.

But he got out in the next over as he gave away a catch to short cover off Jayasuriya.

Jayasuriya and fellow spinner Jeffrey Vandersay took three wickets each as Sri Lanka toiled for 154 overs.

“The surface didn’t change much. They were bowling better lines and a bit quicker and that was the difference,” said Vandersay.

“Australia has a mammoth total on the board. We just need to bat long as possible and keep focusing on building partnerships and take one session at a time.”

The tourists resumed on 330-2 as overnight batsmen Khawaja and Smith frustrated the opposition attack on a sunny morning.

Khawaja took a single off Jayasuriya to reach 200 as he removed his helmet, raised his bat and dropped down to kiss the turf while teammates and fans stood up to applaud.

His previous best was an unbeaten 195 against South Africa in 2023 at Sydney and he is now the first batter from Australia to make a double ton in Sri Lanka.

He silenced his critics who questioned his future after his recent lean patch with just one fifty in the last 15 innings coming into this week’s Test.

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Lyon, Head storm Sri Lanka as Australia clinch first Test within three days

GALLE: Nathan Lyon and Travis Head wreaked havoc on the Sri Lankan batting line to wrap up the rain-hit first Test within the three days as Australia crushed the hosts by 10 wickets, here on Friday.

Sri Lanka showcased a dismal batting performance in the second inning after trailing by a deficit of 109 runs. The hosts hardly managed to avoid an innings defeat, amid the complete collapse of the batting order.

Australian bowlers completely dismantled the Sri Lankan batting as the team was bowled out on 113 with the last six wickets falling in quick succession and added just 18 runs to the total. Only four Sri Lankan batters managed to step into double figures with skipper Dimuth Karunaratne topping the scorecard with 23 runs.

Lyon and Head starred with the bowl to force this Sri Lankan collapse by bagging four wickets each. Meanwhile leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson also grabbed two wickets.

After being put to bat the second time for chasing a meager target of 5 runs, the tourists utilized only four balls with Usman Khuwaja hitting a six and a four to culminate the Australian dominance in style.

Earlier, Australia started the processing of Day 3 by resuming their first inning with an overnight score of 313/8 and managed to add only 8 runs before being bowled out on 321. Left-handed opener Usman Khawaja and all-rounder Cameron Green scored half-centuries on the rain-hit second day to tighten the grip of their side on the first Test.

Australia have now secured a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka with the second Test scheduled from July 8 to 12 at the same venue.

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