Australia furthered their domination over Sri Lanka on Friday in the first Warne-Muralitharan Trophy Test despite rain allowing just the first session of play to be conducted. The visitors chipped away two more wickets to move closer to victory even as Dinesh Chandimal scored a fighting fifty.
Brief score: SL 136/5 [Chandimal 63*, Dhananjaya 22; Starc 2/13] trail AUS 654/6d by 518 runs at Stumps on Day 3
The third day began on a frantic note with Dinesh Chandimal, unbeaten overnight on nine, went after Nathan Lyon in just the third over of the day and reaped three boundaries as reward. However, the outburst was never enough to shift momentum and within 15 deliveries the pendulum swung back in Australia’s favour with the prodigous Kamindu Mendis tickling a Mitchell Starc delivery down his pads for Alex Carey to puch a simple catch and reduce the hosts to 67/4. Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva walked in next and provided a rare sense of stability for the islanders as he combined for 40 comfortable runs with Chandimal who was nearing a half-century when the hosts struck themselves again. Dhananjaya aimlessly skipped down the track against Matthew Kuhnemann, was comprehensively beaten by the turn and bounce before Carey whipped off the bails and the Lankan frustration was appropirately mirrored in Chandimal’s despairing reaction. Nevertheless, Chandimal kept chipping away with Kusal Mendis now at the other end and with 15 minutes to go for Lunch, the heavens opened up to save Lanka further embarrassment for now.
🏏🌧️ Rain drenched Day 3, forcing an early stumps! Sri Lanka struggle at 136/5, still trailing by 518 runs as Australia tighten their grip.#SLvENG #Cricket pic.twitter.com/ts9rvVaEtM
— Ibrahim’s Insights ✍️ (@ibrahim301105) January 31, 2025
Australia annihilating their opponents—men’s or women’s, it doesn’t matter!
The men’s team crushing Sri Lanka, the women’s team dismantling England—this is dream-level dominance.
How far ahead are they from the rest?— Cric Stories (@AnalysisBanter) January 31, 2025
Aussies in command
Sl vs Aus 1st Test Day 2: Usman Khawaja’s double hundred and twin centuries from Steve Smith and Josh Inglis have put Australia in command after Day 2. Sri Lanka were staring down the barrel at 44/3. pic.twitter.com/JyHYaUIETd
— Vinod Bro (@VinodBro13648) January 31, 2025
Good
Matthew Kuhnemann of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva of Sri Lanka. #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/zdDqfMUgdU
— Robert Cianflone (@Sportsnapper71) January 31, 2025
Sri Lanka play all of their home test matches in Galle, it is very interesting to see how they still struggle to bat in the same pitch Where visiting team scored 600+ without any trouble. Australia is too good? or Sri Lanka is really bad? #SLvAUS #AUSvSL
— ab_sumudu (@sumu_paz) January 31, 2025
Concerning
Finally
Kuhnemann gets Dhananjaya & Sri Lanka have lost half of their side. Carey does a nice work behind the stumps. Home side in deep trouble against Australia.#SLvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/XbSQq6S8yj— IK@BABAR (@ahmed_ikhlaq16) January 31, 2025
Sri Lanka knew Australia was coming right? #SLvAUS
— Nathan A Smith 🛜 (@NathanASmith) January 31, 2025
Highest ever
Cricket pulse
Today’s cricket pulse 🏏⚡️
AUS vs SL Test: Australia leads with Khawaja’s 200; Sri Lanka struggles early on Day 2.
Women’s Ashes: England 170 all out; Perry injured, Brown effective for Australia.
ICC Rankings: New No.1 T20I bowler announced.— Singh is King 👑 (@yoyosinghisking) January 31, 2025
