Picture Credit: Twitter
After clashing in the white-ball series, Sri Lanka and Australia resumed the bilateral contest in red-ball cricket on Monday at Galle International Stadium. The series opener brought the best of Australian bowlers as they soon made a mark in the ongoing first Test match.
Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karunaratne opted to bat first in anticipation to make the most of the home conditions and put a competitive total on board in the first innings, but the collective bowling effort from Australia proved the Lankan skipper wrong. Lankan openers, Pathum Nissanka (23 off 44) and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (28 off 84) could only add 38 runs on board before Australian skipper Pat Cummins scored an early breakthrough for his side by dismissing Nissanka in the 12.1 overs of the first innings.
While Cummins opened an account for the visitors, Mitchell Starc was next to join as he dismissed Kusal Mendis (3 off 15) within the span of 4-runs. Joined by Angelo Mathews in the middle, skipper Karunaratne was playing a responsible innings as he had played 84 balls and added 28-runs before Warner's absolute brilliance in gully spoiled the skipper's plan. Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon deceived Dimuth Karunaratne with his drift in the 30th over on Day 1, but the left-handed batter got a thick outside edge onto his pads and the ball went in the gully.
While Aussies went for an appeal for LBW, David Warner who was stationed at gully showcased a great presence of mind as he takes a one-handed stunner by making full stretch dive forward. Warner's excellent reflexes provided a much-needed breakthrough to the visitors as the Sir Lankan skipper was looking in fine touch and was set in the middle.
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At the time of writing, Sri Lanka has added 204 runs on board at the loss of eight wickets. Jeffrey Vandersay and Lasith Embuldeniya are currently attempting to add crucial runs on board.