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Australia’s Lead in Second Test in Galle
On the first day of the second Test in Galle on Thursday, Australia maintained their lead despite a valiant comeback by Sri Lanka to reach 229-9 at stumps.
Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc each claimed three wickets.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Sri Lanka appeared to be in control at 93-1, putting the first Test defeat by an innings and 242 runs from last week behind them.
However, in his 100th and last Test match, Dimuth Karunaratne was hesitant to bring his bat down, allowing Australia to make a vital breakthrough by drawing a ball from Lyon onto his stumps for 36.
Sri Lanka’s First Test Performance
After a wild hour, the hosts quickly fell behind 127-5, leaving Sri Lanka reeling.
Dinesh Chandimal stood tall amid the rubble.
Despite the destruction, Chandimal was Sri Lanka’s most impressive player in the first Test, putting up a valiant, back-to-the-wall 74 that was laced with six boundaries and a huge six.
Ramesh Mendis & Kusal Mendis’ Crucial 65-Run Partnership
Alex Carey’s brilliant moment of stumping Chandimal off left-arm bowler Matthew Kuhnemann raised alarms just as he appeared ready to lead Sri Lanka to safer grounds.
Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis proved to be a ready ally for Kusal Mendis, the only surviving acknowledged hitter.
Ramesh, who was called up to the team for this pivotal match, was the ideal supporting actor, contributing a critical 65-run partnership with his namesake for the seventh wicket.
Despite all the Australians threw at them, the pair remained resilient and skillfully navigated the abrupt bend and additional bounce.
In defense, Ramesh was unwavering, while Kusal adopted a more assertive stance.
After failing to break the stand, the tourists finally resorted to the second new ball, which Starc delivered with immediate impact.
With Ramesh trailing one, Starc was unrelenting as they steamed in at over 145 kph.
With Prabath Jayasuriya feathering one to the slip cordon on the very next delivery, the left-arm fast struck again, leaving the Australians smelling a collapse.
21-year-old Cooper Connolly debuts for Australia
Nishan Peiris entered under tremendous pressure as Starc was on a hat-trick, but Kuhnemann bowled him.
Kusal Mendis, meantime, kept the scoreboard moving and hit a single to long-off to register his well-deserved half-century.
Former players Geoff Marsh and Merv Hughes are leading sizable touring contingents of Australian fans who have traveled to Galle in hundreds.
Ramesh Mendis, fast bowler Lahiru Kumara, and opener Pathum Nissanka were added to Sri Lanka’s squad after they suffered their worst Test loss in the first match of the series.
Cooper Connolly, an all-rounder who is 21 years old, was given a debut by Australia in lieu of Todd Murphy.
