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January 31, 2025
Sri Lanka totter on 44/3 before Australia’s colossal 654/6 decl. as towering majestic Dutch Fortress for once goes gloomy for locals

Sri Lanka Cricket

By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka faced imminent defeat tottering on 43 for 3 wickets in reply to Australia’s mammoth first iñnings 654 for 6 declared in only the second day’s play of the first test tripped in their usually favourite backyard before a highly cheering Australian spectator turn out drum up that dwarfed the local fan base in that wreckage as the towering magnificent ancient Dutch Fortress for once ran gloomy to the cricket infested locals in the Southern coastal belt climes of Galle’s International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Indeed, the Australians powered their way in a mighty world’s supreme test nation by such a stunning run avalanche with opening batsman Usman Khawaja going on to hog the record books becoming the first Australian to score a double century 232 against Sri Lanka on Lankan soil while Josh Inglis smashed his way to becoming the 21st Australian batsman to score a debut century off 91 bells on a day skipper Steve Smith left his imprint on a 251-ball 141 having struck 12 boundaries and 2 sixes, third out with the score 401 when he was trapped leg before wicket by Jeffrey Vandersay.

Khawaja’s marathon knock off 352 deliveries was upped by 16 boundaries and a six and was fourth out on a zenith of 547 to Prabath Jayasuriya who had him caught by Kamindu Mendis while Inglis who torched the Lankan attack in the final phase sped to 104 off 94 hitting 10 boundaries and a six with Alex Carey unbeaten on 46 and Mitchell Starc on 19.

Sri Lanka’s muck up did raise fitness questions by the failure to snap up vital catches, back up failure for a vital run out and failure to go for reviews of what looked cut and dry on replays.

Jayasuriya took 3 wickets at a cost of 193 runs, Jeffrey Vandersay 3 for 182 while Nishan Peiris went wicket less conceding as much as 189 runs.

Sri Lanka’s 43 came in 15 overs with off spinner Matthew Kuhnemann starting the slide trapping Oshada Fernando plumb leg before wicket on the backfoot in his first over as Sri Lanka lost both openers in the first five overs with Mitchell Starc finding Dimuth Karunaratne’s weak point as the batsman came a cropper fending at the rising delivery that has been his nemesis of late to be snapped up in the slips by substitute fielder Mitchell McSweeney for 7. Angelo Mathews became the third casualty caught brilliantly by a diving Travis Head off Nathan Lyon also for 7. It left Dinesh Chandimal unbeaten on 9 and Kamindu Mendis on 13 as Sri Lanka’s next hopes to fronting an uphill third day on Friday with a colossal 611 deficit before them.

Chief Scores
Australia 654/6 decl.
(Usman Khawaja 232, Steve Smith 141, Josh Inglis 104, Carey n.o. 46, Mitchell Starc n.o. 19, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/193, Jeffrey Vandersay 3/182)

Sri Lanka 43/3 (15 Overs)

(Nathan Lyon 1/7, Mitchell Starc 1/10, Matthew Kuhnemann 1/26)

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