SL vs AUS | Khawaja-Smith tons after Head blitzkrieg puts Australia in command at Galle on Day 1

Opting to bat first, Travis Head declared Australia’s intentions early by smoking Asitha Fernando for three boundaries in the opening over and adding a couple more in the pacer’s third of the new ball spell. When Dhananjaya de Silva turned to spin for respite, it made little difference as the hard Kookaburra rode onto the bat beautifully and the refusal to go upstairs for what would have resulted in Head’s scalp when he was on 23 only made matters worse. Before long, the Men from Down Under had raced to 92/0 at a run rate exceeding six and featuring a 35-ball half-century from Head. However, the opener eventually tried one shot too many and holed out to long-on against an ecstatic Prabath Jayasuriya, albeit the happiness was short lived. With the ball now beginning to grip and turn, the visitors had their work cut-out but Khawaja benefitted from a dropped catch at slip to eke out a 43-run stand with Marnus Labuschagne until some prodigous turn from Jeff Vandersay had the latter nick off with Lunch on the horizon. The wicket was met with loud cheers, not just for its potential to hand Sri Lanka the momentum but because Steve Smith walked out next with 9,999 runs to his name. The veteran reached the elusive landmark off his very first ball, only to be dropped two deliveries later by Jayasuriya off his own bowling as the first session ended on 145/2.

It was all about Smith and Khawaja for the entirety of the second session with the duo exhibiting a plethora of exquisite sweeps, pulls, and cuts on the slow deck. The former was especially gung-ho in dancing down the track at every possible opportunity, allowing him to bring up his half-century off just 57 balls, and the score already read a formidable 223/2 when Drinks was called. Khawaja soon brought up his maiden Test ton on Lankan shores with a flick for a boundary as the pair headed for Tea unbeaten at 261/2 with the partnership reading 126.

Usman Khawaja is the oldest man to score a Test century for Australia since Steve Waugh in 2003.

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) January 29, 2025

Smith’s brilliance shines!