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Australia steady at tea, reach 66-2 vs Sri Lanka on Day 1, 1st Test at Pallekele
Earlier, Mitchell Starc and Co bowled out Sri Lanka for 117, which was Sri Lanka’s fourth lowest total in Tests against Australia.
Published: Jul 26, 2016, 02:49 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 27, 2016, 12:22 PM (IST)
Australia take Tea at 66 for 2, trailed Sri Lanka by 51 runs on Day 1 of the first Test at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja were at the crease before the break, playing on 28 and 25. They brought up a 59-run stand for third wicket. After a horrific first innings where the hosts were bowled out for a mere total of 117, they struck back hard when the Australians came in to bat. The early dismissals of the opening pair of David Warner and Joe Burns surely helped in repairing their shattered confidence following that batting display. Rangana Herath and Nuwan Pradeep made the breakthroughs for Sri Lanka. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test at Kandy
A lifeless Day 1 so far suddenly turned lively when Pradeep rattled Warner’s left bail. While the Australian vice-captain looked to drive, he got a thick inside edge. The replays showed Pradeep might have crossed the line but the umpire gave the benefit of doubt to the bowler, leaving Australia at 3 for 1 in 2.2 overs. It was Warner’s second consecutive duck against this opposition in Tests. It was a great breakthrough for Sri Lanka as they dismissed the batsman who averages more than 50 and would have been highly damaging had he settled down.
Earlier, Mitchell Starc and Co bowled out Sri Lanka for 117; which was Sri Lanka’s fourth lowest total in Tests against Australia, their previous lowest totals being 97, 103 and 105 (Darwin, Melbourne and Galle). Dhananjaya de Silva, who made his Test debut, top-scored for Sri Lanka with 24 off 38 balls. While Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon picked 3 wickets each, Steve O’Keefe and Starc had 2 scalps each for themselves.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 117 (Dhananjaya de Silva 24, Kusal Perera 20; Mitchell Starc 2 for 51, Josh Hazlewood 3 for 21, Steve O’Keefe 2 for 32, Nathan Lyon 3 for 12 ) lead Australia (Usman Khawaja 25*,Steven Smith 28*; Nuwan Pradeep 1 for 3, Rangana Herath 1 for 15) by 51 runs.
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(Sakshi Gupta, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a sports fanatic whose mantra in life is “do only what you enjoy.” Her Twitter handle is @sakshi2929)