Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis scored 152 runs for the second wicket together, enabling the Sri Lankan team to reach a comfortable position at the end of the second day of the second Test at the Galle International Stadium. Chasing a first innings target of 364 runs, the Sri Lankan team scored 184 runs for 2 wickets at the end of the day, another 180 runs behind the Australian first innings.
Pathum Nissanka was run out with the total number of runs at 12 with a catch by Galihi’s keeper Cameron Green. Then Kusal Mendis, who joined Dimuth, hit fours when he saw the weak balls and added runs at other times to finish the Sri Lankan innings.
They reached the expected pace in this game, which started slowly as the pitch became familiar to the eye, but Swepson managed to dismiss Dimuth 14 runs short of the century. As a result, he had to be content with only the 30th half-century, leaving aside the 15th century. Dimuth’s innings, which lasted 165 balls and included 10 fours, was cut short at 86 runs because he was caught guarding the wicket.
Mendis managed to keep his inning alive by scoring 84 runs at the end of the match. Mendis’ innings spread over 152 balls was colored by 9 fours. Mathews, who stays with Mendes at the other end, has 06 points.
On the second day, the Sri Lankan bowlers led by Prabhat Jayasuriya finished the Australian scoreboard at 364 while scoring 66 runs. Prabhat Jayasuriya, who bowled brilliantly to end the Australian innings, dismissed six Australian batsmen for 118 runs, living up to the trust placed in him in the absence of senior bowlers.
Jayasuriya managed to record the second best bowling performance by a Sri Lankan bowler in the first innings while participating in a maiden Test match. In the 2020 Test series against Bangladesh, Jayawickrama’s 6-wicket haul for 61 runs is recorded as the best bowling performance recorded by a Sri Lankan bowler in his debut.
With 298 runs for 5 wickets, the second day started and for the Australian team, Steven Smith kept the innings unbroken by scoring Australia’s innings came to a quick end after Steven Smith’s 77-run stand with Alex Carey for the 6th wicket, which was recorded off 272 balls with 16 fours, was broken. After Carey’s dismissal, Australia was able to collect only 36 runs.
Jayasuriya, who took 3 out of 5 wickets on the first day, claimed 3 out of 5 wickets today. Sheahan took the first wicket of the day with Alex Carey (28) then took the wickets of Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to register his record bowling. Apart from Jayasuriya’s wicket, Kasun Rajitha and Mahish Thiekshana took the other wickets. Thiekshana’s maiden wicket was Mitchell Saveson, the last batsman of the Australian team.
Australia all out for 364 in 110 overs – Steven Smith (not out) 145, Manas Labuschagne 104, Alex Carey 28, Usman Khawaja 37, Prabhat Jayasuriya 118/6, Kasun Rajitha 70/2, Ramesh Mendis 117/1, Mahish Thiekshana 48/1)
Sri Lanka 184 for 2 in 63 overs – (Kusal Mendis 84 not out, Dimuth Karunaratne 86, Pathum Nissanka 6, Angelo Mathews 06 not out, Mitchell Starc 28/1, Mitchell Swepson 31/1)
