Last updated on July 8th, 2022 at 10:20 am
Australia bowled out Sri Lanka for 212 on Wednesday with the aid of Nathan Lyon’s five-for, before the home team fought back with three wickets.
Ramesh Mendis of Sri Lanka struck twice, including David Warner’s crucial wicket for 25, on a shifting field at the scenic Galle stadium as the tourists reached 98 for three at stumps.
After becoming confused with the starting Usman Khawaja, who was unbeaten at 47, Steve Smith was run out for six and he retreated to the pavilion shaking his hands in disgust.
Australia was still down by 114 runs after their first innings when Khawaja and fellow left-hander Travis Head entered the game.
Warner, the left-handed opener, struck five boundaries during an aggressive stay at the wicket before being sent out by the off-spinner Mendis.
Although a reverse sweep effort forced Marnus Labuschagne out, it was Smith’s wicket that really had the home crowd going. Khawaja turned down the former captain midway for a simple single, and despite a frantic dive, he was unable to reach the crease.
Khawaja persevered until the end of the play when wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella’s attempted stumping failed.
Prior to the collapse of the Sri Lankan innings in the third session as a result of the hosts’ choice to bat first to open the two-match series, Dickwella had scored a resolute 58.
Together with fellow spinner Mitchell Swepson, a leg-spinner who claimed three wickets, Lyon, who recorded his 20th five-wicket haul in Test matches, shook the opposing batting order.
As Sri Lanka took lunch at 68-2, fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc each claimed a wicket early on. On a pitch that is renowned for helping slow bowlers, the spinners quickly took control.
During his 59-ball stint at the crease, left-handed Dickwella counterattacked and formed significant partnerships, notably a 54-run partnership with Mendis (who hit 22) for the seventh wicket.
In the second session, Dickwella needed 42 balls to reach 50, but Lyon eventually bowled him out and then sent back Mendis after tea.
After 59 overs, Swepson and Lasith Embuldeniya, who was on a hat-trick but was denied by Dickwella, put an end to the innings.
With his 39, Angelo Mathews also helped to Sri Lanka’s total and joined Dickwella in a 42-run partnership that was eventually ended by Lyon.
Asitha Fernando is the only fast bowler among Sri Lanka’s four spinners in their lineup. Jeffrey Vandersay, a rookie leg-spinner, threw three overs.
The island nation, which defeated Australia 3-2 in the one-day international series, is dealing with an unprecedented economic crisis, with citizens all around the nation finding it difficult to pay for food, petrol, and other needs.
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