Brief score: SL 44/3 [Kamindu 13*, Chandimal 9*; Lyon 1/7] trail AUS 654/6d [Khawaja 232, Smith 141; Vandersay 3/182] by 610 runs
Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith began Day 2 exactly where they had left off the previous evening as the pair used the depth of the crease and footwork to brilliant effect to navigate the Lankan spinners on the slow Galle deck. The duo added 71 more runs to their overnight partnership of 195, even when the likes of Jeff Vandersay continued to extract prodigous spin, but it was eventually a lack of turn that brought the hosts the breakthrough as a legbreak went past Smith’s inside edge to tHowever, the wicket only brought more rap him plumb for 141. However, the wicket only brought more misery for the islanders as Josh Inglis came out with his typical aggressive intent and started taking the spinners to the cleaners. By Lunch, the debutant had already raced to 44 at nearly run-a-ball while Khawaja brought up a maiden Test double with the partnership reading 74 in a score of 475/3.
The duo doubled their partnership without much ado but with weather forecast a concern, the need became apparent to switch gears. Inglis showed no inhibiton in smacking Vandersay for a four and a six but Khawaja could not replicate the effort and nicked behind off Jayasuriya after a marathon 232. Inglis, nontheless, remained unperturbed as he brought up a maiden Test ton off just 90 delvieries albeit he did fall shortly after to Jayasuriya as well in trying to take him on. Lanka finally sensed some momentum, even though the score read a gloomy 570/5, but Alex Carey and Beau Webster ensured no lower order collapse ensued as they ticked off 30 runs until Tea and added another 29 in the final session as all eyes looked to Steve Smith expecting a declaration. None arrived for another five overs until the skipper decided 654/6 on the board was enough.
Australia had an hour and half left in the day to have a crack but only had to wait two overs for an opening success when Oshada Fernando, filling in for the injured Pathum Nissanka, failed to pick the pace of Matthew Kuhnemann’s stock spinner and was given out LBW. Dimuth Karunaratne followed suit shortly after courtesy of a lethal Mitchell Starc bumper and Angelo Mathews became the third victim of the innings when his luck ran out to a flying Travis Head at short leg, soon after he had survived a ball thumping into his stumps without dislodging the bails. It took the heavens opening up with 13 minutes of play still left to ultimately give Sri Lanka respite as Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis walked off, well aware they are massively behind in the game.
Travis Head flies at bat pad! ✈️
Nathan Lyon gets Australia’s THIRD #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/Nx4KxB0bwy— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 30, 2025
The worst
First ever
Josh Inglis becomes the first Yorkshireman to score a Test hundred in the Ashes year of 2025 with a debut effort for Australia v Sri Lanka in Galle. Here he is getting a Year 8 sports award from Kaiser Chiefs as a 13-year-old in 2008, two years before emigrating. pic.twitter.com/WnlXK1SU2W
— Richard Gibson (@richardgibsonDM) January 30, 2025
Who were those people thinking Sri lanka gonna beat Australia 2-0 and India gonna qualify for WTC final 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/UF5DeKdpHc
— Aaryush (@Aaryush31) January 30, 2025
Classic
Massive total but is this your classic road? It’s spun, but perhaps too slowly for Sri Lanka. Australia have batted very well too.
Matt Kuhnemann could be quite useful pushing the ball through quicker on this pitch.#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/RGXqUBoHFs— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) January 30, 2025
Highest ever
🚨 AUSTRALIA POSTED THEIR HIGHEST TOTAL IN ASIA IN TEST CRICKET 🚨
– 654 for 6 at Galle against Sri Lanka..!!!! pic.twitter.com/RBCzMGemtw— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 30, 2025
#SLvAUS Australia doing well union the warm up game in
Sri Lanka🚜— “STRAIGHT SHOOTER” (@Goalkickingguru) January 30, 2025
Tighten it
Watching Australia tighten the screws on Sri Lanka at home
Gives a very clear picture of the key tactics and mindset of Australian cricket
1. Bomb 💣 you out for a low total
2. Out Bat Opponent chase a mountain ⛰️ then have you set score? 700+
3. Bomb 💣 you out again
🏏⚔️ 🇿🇦v🇦🇺— Thabang Mazibu (@ThabangMazibu) January 30, 2025
Just me?
Is it just me or are Australia playing on a different pitch to what Sri Lanka bowled on? 😅😂 #AUSvSL
— Tom (@CFCswimmer1) January 30, 2025
Is this a home match for Sri Lanka? Or Australia 😂😂😂
3 down for 30 runs where Aus scored 654-6 🥵🥵#ausvs pic.twitter.com/DLtmgRKV3x— K Kamalakannan (@KKamalakannan5) January 30, 2025
Interesting
