Australia took firm control of the second Test against Sri Lanka after day one, surviving a spirited rally from the hosts to limit them to 9 for 229 at stumps on Thursday. With both Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon claiming three wickets each, Australia were relentless on the bowler-friendly Galle pitch.
Sri Lanka, who won the toss and opted to bat, initially seemed composed at 93-1, only for their innings to unravel, losing quick wickets amid growing pressure from the Australian bowlers. Dimuth Karunaratne, playing his 100th and final Test, was dismissed for 36 when he inadvertently dragged a delivery from Lyon onto his own stumps.
Following this breakthrough, Sri Lanka nosedived to 127-5 as Australia tightened their grip on the game. Dinesh Chandimal emerged as the islanders' hero, stitching together valuable partnerships, most significantly with Kusal Mendis, whose resilience kept Sri Lanka afloat after the collapse.
Chandimal's impressive 74 runs included six boundaries and demonstrated his ability to handle the pressure, but his dismissal, executed by Alex Carey who performed another sharp stumping off Matthew Kuhnemann, seemed to signal the end of Sri Lanka’s resistance.
The hosts continued to unravel after Chandimal’s exit; they lost three wickets for just nine runs, collapsing from 6-150 to 9-229. Starc's hat-trick bid was thwarted when Nishan Peiris stepped onto the pitch under immense pressure, but the left-arm pacer produced exceptional bowling, registering figures of 3-45 by the end of the day.
Support from the Australian team was also evident, particularly from Steve Smith, who established a new record for the most catches by an Australian fielder, overtaking Ricky Ponting’s long-held record with his 196th catch.
After the first session, Sri Lanka appeared to have learned from their previous defeat by curbing aggressive shots early on. Despite Pathum Nissanka’s dismissal for 11, Sri Lanka managed to build solid partnerships, with Chandimal and Karunaratne both chipping in with runs.
Chandimal highlighted his importance by sharing a 70-run stand with Karunaratne before the batting order crumbled around him, epitomizing Sri Lanka's struggle to maintain momentum.
Australia debuted 21-year-old Cooper Connolly, who replaced Todd Murphy. Prior reports showed Connolly as the first Australian to debut at No. 8 without any first-class wickets, adding pressure on him to deliver.
The chaos after lunch saw Sri Lanka's middle-order batters falter, showcasing the challenges presented by Galle’s dry pitch, which allowed Australian spin to thrive. Nathan Lyon owned the innings for the Australians, finishing with 3-78 from 30 overs and inching closer to his 550th Test wicket.
Initially, the Sri Lankan lineup seemed to hold its own against Lyon and Kuhnemann, who combined for five wickets as they executed the game plan by bowling disciplined lines. Lyon's ability to extract turn and bounce continuously challenged the batters; Chandimal was finally trapped by Kuhnemann, whose delivery passed just over the edge of Chandimal's bat.
Throughout the day, Starc showcased his formidable capability with the ball, resembling the player who had such success in previous matches. His return yielded the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva during his second spell, increasing the slow build of pressure on the Sri Lankan batting order.
"We’ve done our homework, and it’s paying off as we disrupt their plans," Steve Smith noted post-match. Smith’s strategic thinking on the field was apparent, including his decision to manipulate bowling changes to exploit weaknesses as he sensed each opportunity to leap on the Sri Lankan batters.
Despite the dismal outcomes witnessed on day one, Sri Lanka’s tail end showed smaller signs of resistance. Kusal Mendis, who reached his half-century, and Ramesh Mendis put together a 65-run partnership for the seventh wicket, momentarily stifling Australia’s momentum.
The impactful performances from both teams established the second Test as one full of intrigue, showcasing strength and tactical gameplay on both ends. While Australia asserted their control as the day closed, Sri Lanka can look to bounce back with their remaining players as conditions would likely change, making day two pivotal.
The series has already been dramatic, with Australia turning the heat on Sri Lanka after the hosts faced their biggest Test loss by 242 runs last week. With conditions favoring the spinners as the match progresses, how effectively will Sri Lanka respond? The Test match is expected to be thrilling as each team aims to forge their path to victory.
AS IT STANDS: Australia 1st innings 3-45 Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon lead the bowling charge against Sri Lanka’s batting lineup, putting the hosts on the back foot.