Australia scored a massive 654/6 led by the three centurions Usman Khawaja (232), Steve Smith (141), and Josh Inglis (102).T hey also scored their highest score in Asia surpassing their 581 in Karachi against Pakistan in 2022. Usman Khawaja made the most of the serene batting conditions in Galle to notch up his maiden double century in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
Usman Khawaja scored 232 runs before getting out in the first innings as Australia have already posted a mammoth total after opting to bat. Usman Khawaja broke a lot of records but one of them was of the legendary India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who was earlier the oldest player to score a double century in Sri Lanka.
Usman Khawaja’s maiden Test double century and a rapid ton from debutant Josh Inglis decimated a flagging Sri Lanka before Australia’s attack breathed life into a slow Galle surface late on day two.
Day 2 : Morning Session : Usman Khawaja slams maiden double ton as SL toil continues in the pre lunch session
Usman Khawaja scored his maiden double-century in Test cricket with an unbeaten 204 at Lunch on Day 2 of the first Test in Galle. It is also the highest Test score by an Australian batter on Sri Lankan shores. Led by his monumental batting effort, Australia continued to dominate the Test as they plundered 145 runs in the session losing only the wicket of Steve Smith, who fell for 141. The hosts went to Lunch at 475/1.
Usman Khawaja and Smith merrily carried on from where they had left off on Day 1. The Sri Lankan spinners after bowling negative lines outside leg stump in the third session Day 1, went back to bowling outside off with the new ball. But the two batters were happy to knock it around and get their eye in once again as Khawaja quickly moved to 150.
Australia resumed on 330 for 2 with play starting 15 minutes early after rain ended day one prematurely. After resorting to a defensive leg-stump tactic late on day one, Jayasuriya attacked the stumps and aimed to skid the second new ball on.
But after four overs, Smith had enough and showed his first signs of aggression by skipping down the wicket as the partnership passed 200 runs. Usman Khawaja unfurled the reverse sweep to good effect on day one, but was lucky on his first attempt in the morning’s play when he only just cleared Peiris over short third for a boundary.
A third straight wicketless session loomed for Sri Lanka until Vandersay deceived Smith with a delivery that straightened down the line and hit him on the back pad. Vandersay’s enthusiastic appeal was initially turned down, but the decision was overturned on review in a massive relief for Sri Lanka.
After waiting almost 100 overs, Inglis finally entered the crease as he chewed gum furiously awaiting his first delivery in Test cricket. He started in fine fashion with a boundary after whipping Vandersay through mid-on and was at ease against spin.
The batters were more aggressive against Nishan Peiris, not allowing him to settle, scoring frequent boundaries off him. Steve Smith danced down the track to loft a few boundaries over extra-cover before carving one away to the backward point fence off Jeffrey Vandersay. Sri Lanka missed a run-out chance of Khawaja after he had lazily wandered outside his crease.
Sri Lanka picked up Smith in the first over after the drinks break. It was a very good set up by Vandersay who had gotten the first ball to sharply spin past his outside edge. He followed it up a couple of balls later which held it’s line and straightened to rap Smith on the back-leg, trapping him plumb in front of the stumps. It brought the third-wicket stand of 266 runs to an end.
It brought debutant Josh Inglis to the crease who got off the mark with a flick to the boundary. The runs then began to flow freely for the Australians as they managed to find the boundary in every over, racing past the 450-mark. Usman Khawaja got to his 200 with a single past Prabath Jayasuriya and raised his bat and helmet to soak in the applause from the crowd.
After waiting almost 100 overs, Inglis finally entered the crease as he chewed gum furiously awaiting his first delivery in Test cricket. He started in fine fashion with a boundary after whipping Vandersay through mid-on and was at ease against spin. He showcased his confidence by skipping down the track and launching several blows down the ground to race to 44 at a run a ball pace by tea.
The only other half-chance the hosts created was when Inglis played a premeditated reverse sweep and almost chopped it back on to the timber behind him. Inglis and Usman Khawaja have now registered an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 74 runs.
Day 2 : Post Lunch Session : Josh Inglis adds to Sri Lanka’s woes with a sizzling century on debut as Australia breach 600 vs SL
Josh Inglis scored his maiden Test ton on debut and became the third centurion for Australia in the innings following Usman Khawaja (232) and Steve Smith (141). It is also the second fastest century by a batter on debut, reaching the milestone in just 90 balls. The visitors reached the 600-run mark before Tea on Day 2 in Galle. 125 runs were scored for the fall of two wickets in the second session of the Day.
The second session began in similar fashion to the others as Usman Khawaja and Josh Inglis steered the ball into the gaps for ones and twos, as the latter got to 50. Inglis then deployed the pull and the sweep to great effect dispatching the bowlers to the fence as runs started to flow for Australia. Inglis got a reprieve after he was given out LBW but the batter had a faint nick off the bat, saving him on 58.
Fernando was handed the ball after the interval for the first time in the day’s play and tried to provide a spark for his flagging team. But his short delivery was treated with disdain by Inglis, brought up on the WACA’s fast and bouncy surface.
Inglis reached his half-century off 51 balls to become the third Australian debutant in as many Tests to reach that landmark, following in the footsteps of Beau Webster and Sam Konstas.
Shortly after the pair reached their 100-run partnership, Inglis was given out lbw on 58 off Nishan Peiris after being struck on the back leg having missed a reverse sweep. But he reviewed immediately and the decision was overturned with a nick on the bottom of the bat detected.
Just before drinks, Inglis pulled out the long levers clinching two boundaries and a six off Jeffrey Vandersay. Usman Khawaja, who was on 232, fell in the first over after drinks nicking behind to the ‘keeper off Prabath Jayasuriya. Josh Inglis had a very not-so-nervous nineties as he slapped one to extra cover for four before deploying a reverse sweep to take him to 98. He got to his 100 with a punch to extra cover for three, bringing up his milestone in front of his parents who were in the stands.
Inglis remained unflustered and continued attacking, but Usman Khawaja’s indefatigable knock finally ended when Jayasuriya enticed an edge to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis. Inglis reached his ton with a push through the off-side before providing a simple catch to cover as Jayasuriya’s toil was again rewarded.
But his impactful 100 came to an end after lobbing one to mid-off as Jayasuriya picked up his third wicket. Alex Carey and Beau Webster rotated the strike towards the end of the session to leave Australia on 600. It was also the most overs Jayasuriya has bowled in an innings in his Test career with 60 overs.
Australia ground Sri Lanka into the ground before Smith finally declared and batting suddenly became extremely difficult for the beleaguered home team.
Day 2 : Afternoon Session : Australia strike early to leave SL in tatters in pursuit of 654
Usman Khawaja’s maiden Test double century and a rapid ton from debutant Josh Inglis decimated a flagging Sri Lanka before Australia’s attack breathed life into a slow Galle surface late on day two.
Australia had Sri Lanka on the ropes as they picked up three top-order Sri Lanka wickets late on Day 2 to leave the hosts trailing by 610 runs at 44 for 3 by stumps in Galle. Australia scored a massive 654/6 led by the three centurions Usman Khawaja (232), Steve Smith (141), and Josh Inglis (102). They also scored their highest score in Asia surpassing their 581 in Karachi against Pakistan in 2022.
After stand-in captain Steven Smith declared Australia’s innings on 654 for 6 midway through the final session, Sri Lanka’s top order fell apart and they lost three wickets inside the opening 10 overs. Sri Lanka reached 44 for 3 when rain ended the day’s play prematurely with Australia enjoying a firm grip on the first Test.
Exhausted after spending 154 overs in the field, openers Oshada Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne were dismissed within the first five overs.
With Mitchell Starc selected as Australia’s only frontline quick, there was intrigue over who would share the new ball with him. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhneman, playing in his first Test match in almost two years, was an inspired choice and claimed Fernando lbw for 7 in his first over.
Bowling from around the wicket, Kuhneman trapped him on the flap of his front pad as Fernando reviewed in vain. Kuhneman was mightily pleased when the decision was upheld having made a speedy recovery from a thumb injury sustained in a BBL match on January 16.
Sri Lanka slid further when Karunaratne edged a short-of-a-length delivery from Starc to gully, where substitute fielder Nathan McSweeney completed a catch on the juggle having desperately turned around and dived after the ball bobbled over his head.
Having had little to do in the recent series against India, offspinner Nathan Lyon completed Australia’s near perfect day with the wicket of Angelo Mathews, who was brilliantly caught by a diving Travis Head at short leg.
Road Ahead on Day 3 for Australia and Sri Lanka
Australia have completely capitalized on winning a favorable toss and batting first on a slow surface amid stifling humidity as they amassed their highest ever total against Sri Lanka. Usman Khawaja finished with 232 off 352 balls and fell early in the second session dominated by Inglis, who became the first Australian debutant to score a Test century since Adam Voges – his Western Australia coach – in 2015.
England-born Inglis reached his century off just 90 balls and he jumped high before punching the air with his proud parents visibly emotional in the terraces. He joined Michael Clarke and Shaun Marsh as Australian century-makers on Test debut in Asia.
Inglis showcased his proficiency against spin with decisive footwork either by skipping down the track or rocking back deep into the crease. His aggressiveness and maturity, having captained Australia in ODI and T20I cricket recently, reinforced why the selectors were keen to shoehorn him in the side.
Inglis, the Western Australia wicketkeeper playing as a specialist batter, celebrated his milestone with incumbent keeper Alex Carey at the crease before he fell on 102 having faced 94 balls. Khawaja had earlier notched his highest Test score, overtaking his 195 not out against South Africa at the SCG in 2023 when rain forced an Australia declaration.
Usman Khawaja and Smith were the fulcrum of Australia’s massive first innings, combining for a 266-run partnership. Smith was the only wicket to fall in the morning session after being trapped lbw for 141 by leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, Sri Lanka’s most threatening bowler.
Smith added 37 runs to his overnight tally after a momentous opening day where he became the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs en route to a 35th century. The 38-year-old Khawaja celebrated his first Test double century just before lunch as he kneeled down and bowed to the turf as the fans, many of whom are Australians, applauded with gusto.
He had earlier overtaken Justin Langer’s 166 in Colombo in 2004 as the highest score by an Australian in Sri Lanka. Having struggled against spin earlier in his career in South Asia, Khawaja has become only the second Australian after Allan Border to make Test centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Khawaja has wound back the clock after an 18-month Test-century drought, having most recently against India struggled at the hands of tormentor Jasprit Bumrah. Sri Lanka utilized just their four frontline bowlers with sole quick Asitha Fernando bowling just 15 overs. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya was effectively blunted with 3 for 193 off 60 overs in a far cry from when he claimed 12 wickets against Australia on the same ground in 2022.
Sri Lanka’s attack were unable to counter Australia’s aggressive approach and stem the flow of runs. Their tardy performance in the field on the opening day, where they missed several opportunities to dismiss Khawaja and Smith, proved costly.
Another day dominated by Australia. They made the Sri Lankan bowlers toil in the field over the last two days and declared with a massive total of 654/6. The visitors were 330/2 at stumps on day 1 and added more than 300 runs on the second day of the Test as well. Smith notched up his 35th Test century, while Usman Khawaja notched up a fantastic double century to put the Aussies in a commanding position. Josh Inglis didn’t waste any time either as he scored a brisk century on his Test debut to make things worse for Sri Lanka.
Jayasuriya bowled 60 overs – the most number of overs the left-arm spinner has bowled in an innings of a Test match. He did pick three wickets, while Vandersay claimed three wickets as well in his long spell. Sri Lanka’s fielding wasn’t up to the mark as they dropped many catches and allowed Australia to reach such a daunting total.
In reply, Starc and Kuhneman removed the openers early, while Nathan Lyon took Mathews’ wicket. It was a sensational catch by Head at short leg that removed Mathews. With three more days remaining, Australia are miles ahead in the game. Going to be difficult for the Sri Lankan batters on the following days as the pitch will grip and turn a lot more. It is extremely tough to bat last in Galle with the pitch expected to deteriorate as the match progresses and for the same reason, it would be interesting to see how SL responds on moving Day 3.