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Khawaja, Smith and Inglis hit tons as Australia passes 650 runs
Khawaja scores first double-century as Australia passes 650 runs
Australia declared their first inning at 654 for 6 on day two in the Galle test.
Australia’s substitute captain Steven Smith scored his one more century and with that, he completed his 10,000 test run, whereas Usman Khawaja scored his 16th century as Australia was successful with their bold strategy against a Sri Lankan team that relies on spin bowlers, playing on a slow pitch in Galle.
Opening day was finished by Australia dominating the series with 330 by 2 as because of rain the match ended at 81.1 overs. Khawaja and Smith together were able to score a total of 195 runs in partnership and Australia made the most of the easy batting conditions, aiming to win their first series in Sri Lanka since 2011.
As a captain, Steven Smith has an average of 66 runs in all 38 tests, and it seems that he is enjoying his leadership in the absence of Pat Cummins. After lunch, he played exceptionally well, reaching his half-century in 57 balls. In the final session, he showed patience as Prabath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's key player, bowled defensively.
As the chances of rain increase, Smith moves towards getting his another 35th test century. He subtly celebrated by raising his baggy green cap. Smith had scored three centuries in his last seven Test innings.
Smith began the match just one run shy of 10,000 having narrowly missed reaching that milestone in the fifth Test against India at his home ground, the SCG.
Usman Khawaja became the second Australian batter after Allan Border to score Test centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Usman Khawaja became the second Australian batter after Allan Border to score Test centuries in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
But Smith gained this milestone in his first delivery and that too before lunch as he urges to join his name with Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh who are the only Australians who have achieved the milestones. He received loud cheers from his teammates and the enthusiastic Australian fans as he celebrated with a humble wave of his bat.
He nearly got out when he offered a return catch to Jayasuriya, who missed the low chance. However, Smith played almost perfectly after that, putting on his baggy green cap and batting confidently. Like openers Khawaja and Travis Head in the first session, Smith was quick on his feet and focused on hitting the spinners down the ground.
Without having to face Jasprit Bumrah, Khawaja seemed relaxed and played confidently, ending a long wait for a century since the opening Ashes Test in mid-2023.
After a tough series against India, there was pressure on the 38-year-old Khawaja, but he impressed by balancing the aggressive play of Smith and Head, who scored 57 off 40 balls, justifying his promotion up the order.
Khawaja used the reverse sweep effectively and reached his century in 135 balls, celebrating with fist pumps, removing his helmet, and waving his bat.
It was a parching start for the Sri-Lanka in this two-test series, who were mainly careless in the field and unpunctual with their reviews. They get enough chances to dismiss Khawaja, which includes two dropped catches from the bowling of an increasingly frustrated Jayasuriya, who took 12 wickets against Australia at this venue during his Test debut in 2022.
Khawaja got lucky when he edged Jayasuriya to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis on 74, but Sri Lanka didn't challenge the not-out call.
Apart from a threatening spell before lunch by legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who turned the ball sharply as a surprise inclusion, Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled to control Australia's scoring until they adopted defensive tactics late in the day.
However, the damage was done, with Australia racking up 261 runs at a rate of 4.35 in the first two sessions. When coins fall in the favour of Smit he chooses to bat first without any further hesitation. In a somewhat debatable move, Head moved to number 5 in place of 19-year-old Sam Kontas who made a great start to his career playing a match against India.
The decision allowed Josh Inglis, Western Australia’s wicketkeeper known for his skill against spin, to make his Test debut at number five as a specialist batter, although he hasn't been needed yet.
Head, who had struggled as a middle-order batter in Sri Lanka, found success as an opener in India in the 2023 tour. He continued this form with Khawaja, putting together a 92-run partnership. Despite his aggressive strike rate, which seemed inspired by the recently concluded Big Bash League, Head played smartly and mostly in traditional style.
Head quickly scored 23 off 13 balls, showing no mercy. He was a bit lucky on the last ball of Asitha Fernando's initial three-over spell when he was struck on the pads. Although Fernando strongly appealed, Sri Lanka didn’t review, and replays suggested the not-out decision might have been overturned.
Head scored his half-century off 35 balls but was dismissed soon after when he tried to hit Jayasuriya over long-on and ended up mis-hitting to Dinesh Chandimal on the boundary.
The game shifted dramatically with Vandersay bowling sharp leg spin from the start. He bowled a leg break reminiscent of Shane Warne who completely beat Marnus Labuschagne on his first delivery. Nishan Peiris had a big LBW shout against Labuschagne turned down, with DRS confirming the decision. Labuschagne, on 20, edged Vandersay to first slip, helping Sri Lanka end the first session in better spirits. However, their mood quickly soured when Smith hit Jayasuriya for a six straight down the ground after the resumption, scoring easily until Sri Lanka changed their tactics.
Jayasuriya bowled four consecutive maiden overs around tea, targeting a leg stump line, which Smith patiently defended.
The defensive tactics led umpire Chris Gaffaney to caution the Sri Lankans before the game regained energy as Smith took advantage of tired bowling to move into the seventh spot on the list of most Test century makers.
Sri Lanka took the second new ball, but rain stopped play just seven balls later, giving the struggling home side some relief.
Australia chose a spin-heavy attack, including offspinner Todd Murphy and left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann alongside Nathan Lyon.
Mitchell Starc was the only fast bowler selected, with allrounder Beau Webster available to bowl both seam and spin. Unfortunately, Scott Boland was dropped despite taking 10 wickets against India in the SCG Test.
Usman Khawaja celebrated his second century of the first match, because of which Australia continued to build a strong score in the first innings against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Khawaja scored 204 runs till lunch and still not out, whereas Josh Inglis made a run at 44 per ball and made Australia’s position strong. Meanwhile, Khawaja also beats his own score of 195 not out against South Africa.
The stand-in captain Steven and Khawaja played a massive first inning and together they gave a total of 266 run partnership. Khawaja and stand-in captain Steven Smith have been key in what promises to be a huge first innings for Australia, putting together a 266-run partnership. They added 71 runs on the second day before Smith was dismissed lbw for 141 by legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, Sri Lanka's most dangerous bowler.
Smith added 37 runs to his overnight score after a remarkable opening day where he became the fourth Australian to reach 10,000 Test runs and scored his 35th century.
Khawaja has returned to form after an 18-month drought without a Test century. He previously struggled against India, particularly facing the challenging bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
Sri Lanka relied on their trio of spinners in the first session, but they couldn't stop the runs, much like the first two sessions on day one. Their poor fielding on the opening day, where they missed several chances to dismiss Khawaja and Smith, proved costly.
Australia resumed at 330 for 2, starting 15 minutes early after rain cut short day one. With a new ball, offspinner Nishan Peiris immediately caused trouble for Khawaja by spinning the ball sharply around the wicket.
The conditions were tougher than on the opening day as left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya found a good rhythm. Unlike his defensive tactics late on day one, Jayasuriya attacked the stumps and aimed to skid the ball on.
Khawaja and Smith defended firmly, and after four overs, Smith started to show aggression, moving down the pitch as their partnership surpassed 200 runs.
Khawaja soon reached 150 and hit the first boundary of the day with a powerful slog sweep off Peiris. He used the reverse sweep effectively on day one but was fortunate in the morning when his first attempt barely cleared Peiris for a boundary.
Smith found his rhythm from day one, displaying quick footwork to hit Peiris over cover. He was even more aggressive against Jayasuriya, hitting him for six over long-on as Australia passed 400 runs.
Sri Lanka was on the verge of a third straight wicketless session until Vandersay trapped Smith with a delivery that straightened and hit him on the back pad. Vandersay's appeal was initially rejected, but the decision was overturned on review, much to Sri Lanka's relief.
After completing the wait of 100 overs, Inglis has finally been able to play the match for which he was waiting eagerly. He began confidently with a boundary, whipping Vandersay through mid-on, and handled spin well, although his reverse sweeps found fielders.
He displayed his confidence by advancing down the pitch and hitting several powerful shots straight. Despite being accustomed to the pace-friendly WACA ground, Inglis is known for his ability against spin, demonstrating why the selectors wanted him in the team.
Josh Inglis, the Western Australia wicketkeeper, is playing as a specialist batter. He has shown he is ready for Test cricket after strong performances in the Sheffield Shield and recently captaining Australia in T20I and ODI matches.
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