Australia clinched victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test match, securing their first series triumph on Sri Lankan soil since 2011. The match, which took place at Galle International Stadium, ended dramatically on the fourth day as Australia emerged victorious by 167 runs. The win was largely attributed to stellar performances from Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon, who played pivotal roles throughout the series.
Having already owned the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy after winning the first Test by an innings and 242 runs, Australia came to the second match with the intent to consolidate their dominance. Despite Sri Lanka winning the toss and opting to bat first, they faced immediate difficulties when Nathan Lyon struck early, dismissing Pathum Nissanka for just 11 runs.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal started rebuilding, sharing some key partnerships, but the Australian bowlers managed to keep the pressure on. Karunaratne, who was playing his 100th and final Test, scored 36 runs before offering Lyon his second wicket after lunch.
After dismissing Karunaratne, Lyon proceeded to take the well-set Dinesh Chandimal's wicket, who was leading Sri Lankan resistance with impactful shots including hefty maximums over mid-off. Chandimal managed to score 66 runs but fell victim to Lyon's spin after attempting to up the ante.
Australia's bowling unit, which opted for just three frontline bowlers, relied heavily on Lyon's experience on the turning Galle pitch. The spin king finished with overall figures of five for 112, showcasing his uncanny ability to extract turn and bounce from the surface.
Australia had put together formidable totals batting first — 654 runs, with Khawaja's monumental 232 runs leading the charge. The left-handed opener, who proved to be too hot to handle for Sri Lanka, followed this remarkable performance with another solid outing, putting forth 87 runs in the second Test.
Sri Lanka, already under pressure, faced relentless challenges from the Australian bowlers. Mitchell Starc and debutant Cooper Connolly chipped away at the batting lineup. Connolly, making his Test debut and brought on to replace Todd Murphy, made his presence felt, aiming to make history with the tally. He delivered solid overs and presented a consistent line alongside Lyon.
Under constant threat from the Australian spinners, several key Sri Lankan batters faltered, with Angelo Mathews being dismissed for just nine runs and Kamindu Mendis unable to build substantial momentum as well. A lack of partnerships exacerbated the situation, with the scoreboard reflecting continuous setbacks for the Lankan side.
At the innings break, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 217 runs, trailing the Australians by 437 runs. The Australians came out to bat again, still holding the heavy lead before forcing their opponents to bat one more time. Once again, they found themselves on the uncomfortable end of Lyon’s spinning prowess, succumbed to the pressure, and scrambled their way to only 168 runs.
With Australia declaring their second innings at 384 runs, the writing was on the wall for Sri Lanka as they entered the field for their final challenge. The underpowered batting display could not match the Australian bowling attack.
Despite some spirited performances from the likes of Karunaratne and Chandimal, Sri Lanka could not prevail. After being faced with the massive target of 381 runs to win, they stumbled to 168 all out, sealing Australia’s impressive series win by 167 runs and cleansing away doubts over their capability on subcontinental pitches.
Post-game, Glenn Maxwell commented, ‘winning here is monumental for us as it not only reaffirms our dominance in Test cricket but also sets the tone for future series.’ Australia now returns home riding the high of their recent success, encouraged as they continue their preparations for upcoming international challenges.