The star-studded batter Steven Smith rosed to their occasion once again for Australia. Steven Smith smashed his 36th Test ton & back to back centuries against Sri Lanka (*Australia didn’t bat in 2nd innings due to innings victory). The mighty Aussies are now in a sturdy position with a lead of 73 runs and 7 wickets in hand with score of 330-3.
The island nation fans would be asking themselves as is this the same team that had demolished New Zealand in Tests by 2-0. Skipper Dhananjay de Silva wasn’t able to control the singles & doubles as the strike rotation quite irked the spinners on Day 2. Alex Carey & Steven Smith were involved in an immense unbeaten 239-run partnership.
Kusal Mendis gets Sri Lanka past 250 & spinners strike early in morning session
Sri Lanka’s score at the end of Day 1 was 229-9. Skipper Steven Smith introduced spin from both ends Nathan Lyon & Matthew Kuhnemann. Kusal Mendis slog sweeped the spinners and made them vary their line & length. Kusal tried to take a single on every 5th or 6th delivery of the over and didn’t expose Lahiru Kumara on a rank turner. Though in the 98th over, Matthew Kuhnemann got rid of Lahiru Kumara as he gave a catch to slip fielder and wrapped Sri Lanka’s innings at 257. Kusal Mendis struck a gritty knock of 85 runs in 139 balls hitting 10 fours and 1 six. Nathan Lyon, Matthew Kuhnemann & Mitchell Starc all these bowlers took 3 wickets each & Travis Head one.
Lahiru Kumara from the very first ball went around the wicket to bowl to Usman Khawaja. Travis Head was whacking the bowlers all around the park. Nishan Peris in 7th over, extracted a bit extra turn as the dust came off the wicket and Travis Head couldn’t time the shot well after stepping down and gave a catch to the slip.
Prabath Jayasuriya trapped Marnus Labuschagne who looked unsure of attacking or defending. Marnus Labuschagne has an average of 25.07 in his last 8 test matches with only 4 scores over 50 as his place in the side now is under scrutiny. Steven Smith & Usman Khawaja steadied the ship & at the end of the morning session, Australia’s score was 85-2 in 21 overs.
Usman Khawaja falls but Steven Smith & Alex Carey rebuild the innings in the afternoon session
Usman Khawaja had a nervy start post morning session. Nishan Peris was bowling quite wicket to wicket which forced Khawaja to play almost every another delivery. In the 25th over, Khawaja was adjudged LBW when he couldn’t time a pull shot. Khawaja was dismissed on 36 runs in 57 balls and Australia was in a spot of bother at 91-3.
Alex Carey surprisingly had come into bat at No.5 position as Josh Inglis wasn’t fit due to back-spasms. Carey made the most of the promotion & was playing a lot of sweep & reverse sweep shots. Steven Smtih perhaps took a leaf out of Carey’s crisp strokeplay and was middling every another sweep & reverse sweep shot. It was one of the greatest exhibition of batting on a rank turner. Australia cut down the deficit to 60 runs with Aussies being 197-3 in 50 overs.
Steven Smith & Alex Carey pummell Sri Lankan bowlers & struck tons
Steven Smith not only was playing every delivery on his merit but made sure that the pressure of dot balls doesn’t get to him. Alex Carey doesn’t get the recognition despite being in champion side. The duo forced skipper Dhananjay de Silva to place the fielders in deep & it looked as if it was a 50 over game as that many fielders were at the boundary rope.
Steven Smith roared & got to his 36th Test ton in the 63rd over & was pumped up. The modern day batting stalwart now has 4 Test tons in last 4 Test matches (* in 8 innings) which is quite remarkable. Alex Carey was quite overjoyed after getting to three figure mark. Smith & Carey were see constantly having interaction with each other which was key given how one wicket would have expected their fragile middle order. Australia’s score at the end of Day 2 was 330-3 in 80 overs with a lead of 73 runs.
What lies ahead for Sri Lanka & Australia on Day 3
The second new ball would be due as 80 overs have passed on. Sri Lanka needs to make sure that they don’t allow Smith & Carey to bat more long enough. There’s no doubt that the surface will deteriorate as the match progresses but a lead over 200 runs can hand another innings defeat for Sri Lanka & for that not to happen Prabath Jayasuriya needs to attack the stumps a bit more often. Prabath conceded 107 runs in 25 overs & took 1 wicket and conceded runs 4 per over which isn’t acceptable.
Smith & Carey would be keen to bat as long as possible given there is ample time left in Test match. If Australia go unscathed in the first hour of morning session then their dream of winning Test series in Sri Lanka after 2011 would be somewhat attained. Australia would hope that there isn’t a tragic collapse by losing 7 wickets for 70 runs which will give Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope to make a comeback in Test.