Australia is poised to achieve their first series whitewash on the subcontinent in nearly 20 years, with just two wickets needed to defeat Sri Lanka and secure the victory in the second Test at Galle. After three days of play, Sri Lanka ended day three at 211 for 8, holding only a 54-run lead over Australia’s first innings total of 414. With Kusal Mendis batting at 48 not out, Sri Lanka faces a challenging proposition going forward.
The third day saw Australia put forth considerable pressure on the Sri Lankan side, with Nathan Lyon becoming just the third Australian to exceed 550 Test wickets. "There's a big job to do in the morning with the ball," Lyon stated after the day's play, acknowledging the hard work needed to secure the win. His impressive bowling, yielding 3 wickets for 80 runs, helped dismantle the Sri Lankan batting line-up.
Sri Lanka's innings started cautiously, struggling at 81 for 4 before Angelo Mathews and Mendis combined for key runs, contributing to a 70-run partnership. Mathews displayed remarkable grit, scoring 76 runs and ensuring Sri Lanka avoided what could have been their second innings defeat of the series. Mathews' effort proved pivotal on what has been labeled as a spinning track—an environment hostile to their batting lineup.
After resuming the match with Australia needing to consolidate their lead, the visitors faced challenges early on. Several quick wickets fell, including those of Steve Smith and Alex Carey, who had put together stand-out performances, scoring 131 and 156 runs respectively. Their contributions laid the groundwork for Australia’s solid first innings total. Jayasuriya’s five-wicket haul (5-151) wreaked havoc during Australia’s batting, stripping them of their middle order efficiently within mere overs.
Despite the setbacks, Australia’s bowling unit responded remarkably. Matthew Kuhnemann, continuing his strong showing throughout the series, claimed 4 wickets for just 52 runs. His early dismissal of Pathum Nissanka on his second delivery set the tone for Sri Lanka's uphill battle. Kuhnemann’s follow-up of dismissing veteran opener Dimuth Karunaratne—who finished his Test career with 7,222 runs from 100 matches—added to the struggles faced by the host nation.
After Mathews was finally dismissed, caught out by Beau Webster off Lyon’s bowling, the terraces roared but Sri Lanka’s resistance seemed to diminish. With the Sri Lankan lower order crumbling shortly after, Kuhnemann’s final wicket on day three dealt another blow to the team aiming to extend their innings and provide their bowlers much-needed cushion.
"They have to play in the fourth innings, it's not easy to win in Galle. I think definitely we are in the game," remarked Jayasuriya, eyeing the difficult task at hand for their batting lineup as they attempt to keep the series alive.
For Australia, marching triumphantly toward victory would mark not only the end of their Sri Lankan tour but also extend their record-making series wins across all competitive formats. With only two wickets to take and the bowlers primed and ready for the final day—a close watch is on the balance of both teams.
Ending day three with the game hanging on the precipice, if Australia can capture two more Sri Lankan wickets to complete the sweep, it would be seen as their biggest achievement on subcontinental soil since 2006, signifying their dominance and restructuring of their cricketing prowess on challenging pitches.
With the sun set on the day’s play, Lyon, Kuhnemann, and the rest of the squad will head back to the locker rooms to ponder the task at hand for Sunday morning, eager to seize their moment and claim what has eluded them for nearly two decades.