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Australia Tightens Grip on First Test After Enforcing Follow-On
Sri Lanka Struggles as Australian Bowlers Dominate in Galle
Australia took complete control of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, enforcing the follow-on after a commanding bowling display. The hosts, who resumed their first innings at 136/5, collapsed to 165 all out, forcing them to bat again. By lunch on Day 3, Sri Lanka stood at 75/3, still trailing by 414 runs, with Australia eyeing a quick finish.
Sri Lanka’s First Innings Collapse: A Tale of Wickets
Kuhnemann and Lyon Wreak Havoc
Under clear skies, Sri Lanka had a singular objective—avoid the follow-on. However, Australia’s bowlers had different plans. The morning session saw a rapid downfall as Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for just 29 runs.
- Matthew Kuhnemann was the chief architect of the destruction, claiming a superb five-wicket haul (5-63).
- Nathan Lyon continued his dominance, picking up two wickets to further decimate the Sri Lankan lineup.
Key Wickets:
- Kusal Mendis (16) – Fell into Kuhnemann’s trap while attempting a sweep shot, only to top-edge the ball into the deep.
- Dinesh Chandimal (72) – The last recognized batter, dismissed LBW while attempting a reverse sweep against Lyon.
- Prabath Jayasuriya (7) – Stumped while trying to counter Kuhnemann’s sharp spin.
- Jeffrey Vandersay (2) – Kuhnemann completed his five-wicket haul, dismissing Vandersay to end the innings.
With no resistance from the lower order, Sri Lanka crumbled for 165, giving Australia a mammoth first-innings lead of 489 runs.
Sri Lanka’s Second Innings: More Trouble with the Bat
Australia Strikes Early Again
Following on, Sri Lanka faced another top-order collapse. The experienced Mitchell Starc wasted no time, trapping Oshada Fernando LBW with a lethal inswinging yorker. Starc’s early breakthrough set the tone for another difficult innings for the hosts.
- Todd Murphy, opening the bowling alongside Starc, bowled a dream delivery that took Dimuth Karunaratne’s off-stump.
- Sri Lanka found themselves at 6/2, in deep trouble once again.
Mathews and Chandimal Offer Resistance
In desperate need of a partnership, Angelo Mathews (34) and Dinesh Chandimal (31)* steadied the innings, playing Sri Lanka’s best stand of the match across both innings.
- Chandimal, Sri Lanka’s top scorer from the first innings, struck two consecutive boundaries off Starc to gain some momentum.
- Mathews counterattacked, smashing three back-to-back fours off Murphy, briefly swinging the tide.
However, just before lunch, Lyon struck again, dismissing Chandimal for the second time in the match, derailing Sri Lanka’s recovery.
Match Situation: Can Australia Wrap It Up?
At 75/3, Sri Lanka is still 414 runs behind, needing a monumental effort to make Australia bat again. With the pitch deteriorating, Australia will be keen to close out the match before rain becomes a factor.
Key Statistics:
Sri Lanka’s First Innings:
165 all out (Dinesh Chandimal 72; Matthew Kuhnemann 5-63, Nathan Lyon 2-17)
Sri Lanka’s Second Innings (Following On):
75/3 at Lunch, Day 3 (Angelo Mathews 34, Dinesh Chandimal 31; Mitchell Starc 1-11, Nathan Lyon 1-17)
Australia’s First Innings:
654/6 decl. (Steve Smith 211, Marnus Labuschagne 165)
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