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SL vs AUS 1st Test Day 3 Highlights: Chandimal Holds Sri Lankan Innings Together On Rain-Curtailed Day

Aakash Saini∙ Updated: Jan 31 2025, 5:41 PM

Australian players celebrating a wicket [Source: @cricketcomau/x]Australian players celebrating a wicket [Source: @cricketcomau/x]

Rains washed out more than two sessions worth of play on Day 3 of the series-opening Sri Lanka vs Australia first Test match at the Galle International Stadium. During the 27 overs of the day, Sri Lanka lost two more wickets to add to their overnight misery as they are still left with a mountain to climb to even avoid a potential follow-on.

Here’s the timeline of how SL vs AUS panned out in Galle:

SL vs AUS Highlights: Kamindu Mendis Fails To Lead Sri Lankan Recovery

Sri Lanka’s rising star and overnight batter Kamindu Mendis failed to lead his team to recovery despite conjuring a confident start earlier in the day. Resuming the Sri Lankan innings at 44-3 on Day 3 alongside Dinesh Chandimal, Mendis was caught down the leg side by Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Mitchell Starc in just the sixth over of the day.

The cricketer made his way back to the sheds with 15 to his name from 38 balls as Sri Lanka’s troubles worsened at 67-4.

SL vs AUS Highlights: Captain Dhananjaya Loses Focus Off Kuhnemann

Batting at number six, Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva started off confidently alongside Dinesh Chandimal to steer his team past the 100-run mark without further casualty. Dhananjaya belted three boundaries in his 34-ball 22, but a dance down the track in an attempt to tonk Australian left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann out of the ground accounted for his downfall at 107-5.

SL vs AUS Highlights: Chandimal Composes Fine Fifty, Keeps SL From Faltering

At the other end, Dinesh Chandimal composed a regal half-century, reaching 63* from 115 balls with nine boundaries before rains interrupted play. His unbeaten 29-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis (10* off 25) navigated Sri Lanka to 136-5 from 42 overs, as the hosts extracted 92 runs from the 27 overs of the day at an expense of two wickets.

Ceaseless rains at the venue called for an early stumps, and the two cricketers will now resume the Sri Lankan innings on Day 4 as they find themselves another 518 runs away from Australia’s 654.

For Australia, legendary fast bowler and new ball operator Mitchell Starc (2-13) has bowled eight overs in the innings so far to take two wickets, including that of opener Dimuth Karunaratne late on Day 2. Matthew Kuhnemann has attained figures of 2-48 from his 13 overs, while legendary off-spinner Nathan Lyon got the prized scalp of Angelo Matthews earlier in the innings.

Todd Murphy also laboured for around six overs to concede 28 runs without much success.