AUS VS SL 1st Test: Stumps Day 1
Sri Lanka 212
Australia (25 ov) 98/3
Australia trail by 114 runs.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opt to bat
On Day 1 of the ongoing first Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Galle, the score was 98 for three on Stumps Day1. Usman Khawaja and Travis Head are playing at scores of 47 and 6, respectively. The visitors are trailing 114 runs behind the hosts who were wrapped at 212.
Sri Lanka was bowled out for 212 by Australia in the first innings. Niroshan Dickwella scored a quickfire fifty. Mitchell Swepson claimed three wickets while veteran Nathan Lyon recorded his 20th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Dickwella used five boundaries to get his half-century in just 42 deliveries. He and Ramesh Mendis put up a 50-plus partnership after Nathan Lyon knocked out Angelo Mathews for 39.
The spinners shined in the second session as the hosts were reduced to 139/6 after Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc took a couple of wickets in the first session. Pathum Nissanka was dismissed by Pat Cummins for 23, while Mitchell Starc claimed Kusal Mendis’ wicket. Then, after Mitchell Swepson struck with back-to-back deliveries to dismiss Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal, Nathan Lyon ended Dimuth Karunaratne’s vigil for 28.
As for Australia, they had a quick start with Warner scoring at a strike rate above a hundred. The innings did not last long as he lost his wicket on 25. The batting twins, Marnus and Smith were also dismissed soon after. Smith’s run-out was strange and unfortunate. As of now, Usman Khawaja is leading the trail with Travis Head on the other end as the visitors have scored 98 runs losing 3 batters. Angelo Matthews was the star bowler of the eve for the hosts as he took 2 important wickets.
Day 2 will be crucial. All eyes will be on Sri Lanka spinners who will look on taking more Australia wickets in the first session to not let them take any major lead.
