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SL vs AUS 2nd Test Day 1 Highlights: Lyon Leads Australia’s Spin Assault To Counter Chandimal, Mendis 50s

Aakash Saini

Australian players celebrating a wicket [Source: AP Photos]Australian players celebrating a wicket [Source: AP Photos]

Dinesh Chandimal stood tall for Sri Lanka with a fighting half-century, but Australian spinners kept chipping away with crucial wickets throughout the opening day of action at the Galle International Stadium. Senior fast bowler Mitchell Starc also got into the groove late in the day to strengthen Australia’s grip in the series-deciding second Test match.

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

SL vs AUS Highlights: Karunaratne Steadies Sri Lanka After Early Setback

Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and outbound legend Dimuth Karunaratne cautiously saw off the first 30 minutes of play against Australia’s new ball attack. However, an ambitious sweeping attempt off Nathan Lyon accounted for Nissanka’s downfall for 11 in the eighth over of the innings.

Forming forces at 23-1, unbeaten Karunaratne shared a fifty-plus partnership with in-form number three Dinesh Chandimal to prevent another Sri Lankan wicket before lunch. Both Karunaratne and Chandimal walked out for lunch at 34* and 35* respectively as the hosts reached 87-1 from 30 overs at the end of the opening session.

SL vs AUS Highlights: Nathan Lyon, Golden-Arm Head Fight Back For Australia

Shortly after the lunch break, Nathan Lyon clean bowled a well-set Dimuth Karunaratne, prompting the latter to walk back into the sheds with 36 to his name in the first gig of his farewell Test. The legendary Australian off-spinner also induced ab edge off Sri Lankan number four Angelo Matthews for just a single from 26 balls.

Run machine Kamindu Mendis made just 13 before he was done-in by Australian golden-armer Travis Head. The following over, Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva got caught out by Beau Webster at gully for a first-ball duck by Australian senior speedster Mitchell Starc as the hosts slipped from 93-1 to 127-5 in the space of an hour after lunch.

Amidst tumbling wickets, a composed Dinesh Chandimal brought up his second half-century of the series and the 32nd of his Test career. Chandimal eventually reached 70* alongside wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis to take Sri Lanka to 144-5 from 58 overs at the time of Tea break.

SL vs AUS Highlights: Kuhnemann, Mitchell Starc Pile On Sri Lankan Misery

Matthew Kuhnemann got the prized scalp of half-centurion Dinesh Chandimal shortly after the lunch break to hamper Sri Lanka’s rising momentum. Kusal Mendis subsequently forged a fighting 65-run partnership with Ramesh Mendis to steer Sri Lanka past the 200-run mark. Kusal brought up his own half-century and remained unbeaten at 59* from 107 balls until stumps.

With the hosts gaining some stability at 215-6, Mitchell Starc (3-37) struck twice in succession to tilt the tide back in Australia’s favor. Kuhnemann further knocked over Nishan Peiris for a duck in the final minutes of play as Sri Lanka reached 229-9 from 90 overs.