Australia’s Usman Khawaja leaves the bottom after dropping his wicket throughout day two of the primary check cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.
| Picture Credit score: AP
Sri Lanka was staring down the barrel at 44-3 after Australia achieved its largest ever complete in Asia — 654-6 declared — on day two of the primary check on Thursday.
Fatigued after spending 5 and a half classes fielding underneath the scorching solar, Sri Lanka’s batting resistance was minimal.
Oshada Fernando was the primary to fall for 7, trapped leg earlier than by Matthew Kuhnemann, setting the tone for a difficult night.
Former captains Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews did not final lengthy both, each victims of Australia’s distinctive fielding.
Karunaratne fell on 7 to a spectacular catch at gully off Mitchell Starc, and Mathews was dismissed for 7 in beautiful trend — caught by Travis Head from bat-pad to Nathan Lyon’s off-spin.
Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis weathered some testing moments to achieve stumps as Sri Lanka stay precariously positioned at 610 runs down with three days to go on a deteriorating pitch.
“We’re far too behind within the recreation in the mean time,” Sri Lanka leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay stated. “I do not suppose there’s an excessive amount of on the wicket. That they had clear plans in opposition to all our spinners. The vital factor is to get nearer to their complete. We must always not concentrate on reaching the follow-on.” Australia resumed the day on 330-2 with opener Usman Khawaja and stand-in captain Steve Smith already on centuries.
Smith, who handed 10,000 check runs on day one, pushed on to a masterful 141 off 251 balls. His 266-run stand with Khawaja stands as the best third-wicket partnership in assessments between the groups.
They eclipsed the earlier finest stand of 200 between Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn in Kandy in 2004.
After Smith was trapped leg earlier than by Vandersay, Khawaja remained unruffled, rotating the strike beautifully and punishing free deliveries with precision. He went on to his maiden double century and Josh Inglis turned the twenty first Australian to attain a century on debut.
Khawaja’s eight-hour-plus knock of 232 off 352 balls was historic — the primary Australian to attain a double hundred in Sri Lanka. His is Australia’s highest particular person check rating in opposition to Sri Lanka. At 38, he is second solely to Don Bradman to attain a double century for Australia. Khawaja edged behind to gradual left-armer Prabath Jayasuriya.
“Usman Khawaja was affected person and waited for the free balls and swept so nicely,” Vandersay stated. “Josh Inglis confirmed lot of intent as nicely and it is powerful to comprise when they’re stepping out of the crease and placing us underneath stress.” Inglis wasted no time asserting himself, taking up the bowlers and racing to his century off simply 90 deliveries, the second quickest for a males’s debut. India’s Shikhar Dhawan took 85 balls in 2013 in opposition to Australia. Inglis’ attacking strategy, mixed with Khawaja’s measured brilliance, mixed for 146 runs for the fourth wicket, cementing Australia’s dominance.
Inglis made 102 off 94 balls, additionally edging Jayasuriya behind.
“I attempted to be proactive and put bowlers underneath stress,” Inglis stated. “In case you are caught for 3 to 4 balls, the subsequent ball will in all probability have your title in it.”
The England-born Inglis has performed for Australia in one-day internationals and Twenty20s since 2022, and stated he owed his mother and father lots for transferring from Yorkshire to Perth in 2010.
“Each time we play England, everybody within the dressing room is asking what anthem I’m going to sing. It is a good one,” he stated. “You possibly can’t select the place you have been born. It is a part of my story.”
Whereas Australia made merry on a placid floor, indicators of flip emerged late on day two, providing a glimmer of hope for the spinners. The pitch is predicted to deteriorate additional, making survival more and more tough – particularly with Australia boasting three specialist spinners.
Printed – January 31, 2025 02:02 AM is
