The spin combination of Nathan Lyon 5 for 90 and Mitchell Swepson 3 for 55 helped Australia to bowled out Sri Lanka for 212 in their first innings on the first day of the first Test match played at Galle International cricket stadium yesterday.
At the close of play Australia were 98 for 3 wickets with trail by 114 runs.
The first day dominated by the bowlers while 13 wickets were fell down and ten wickets took by spinners of the two sides.
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| Australian off spinner Nathan Lyon who took 5 for 90 making a successful appeal at the first Test against Sri Lanka |
Sri Lanka choose to bat first but the openers Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka made a slow start while Nissanka was first to out scoring 23 in 44 balls and first breakthrough made by skipper Pat Cummins while wicket keeper Alex Carey took a catch to dismiss inform right hander Nissanka in the 13th over. Kusal Mendis the number three batter was survived at naught (0) before close call which gave not out by the third umpire but he couldn’t continue his form and was back to the pavilion scoring 3 runs in 15 balls. The experienced Michell Starc took his wicket and Carey took his second catch of the innings.
The skipper Karunaratne and experienced Angelo Matthews were at the wicket when 68 for 2 wickets at lunch break. Three overs after lunch break skipper Karunaratne who played a very responsible innings finally out with a superb catch took by gully fielder David Warner off the spinner Nathan Lyon. In fact Karunaratne was scored 23 runs in 84 balls heading for a long innings but with Lyon started his superb bowling spell to grab Karunaratne’s wicket in 30th over .
The 37th over bowled by leg spinner Michell Swepson who played his third Test and was able to turn the game for the favour with taking back to back two wickets. Sri Lanka were 97 for 5 at that stage while Dhananjaya de Silva (14) was his first wicket at first ball of the 37th over while experienced Dinesh Chandimal was out first ball duck while Warner took his second catch at second slip position.
The most experienced batter Angelo Matthews was heading for a long innings but Lyon was once again struck with Matthews was back to the pavilion scoring 39 in 71 balls with 3 fours. The wicket keeper Niroshan Dikwella started with his usual style and reached his 21st half century also added 64 runs seventh wicket partnership with Ramesh Mendis who was out 22 in 36 balls. Dikwella once again tried to attempt for sweep shot against Lyon and was caught by Alex Carey in the 56th over.
The 34 year old off spinner Nathan Lyon made a superb spell taking 5 for 90 in his 25 over spell while this was his 20th five wicket haul. The 28 year old leg spinner Mitchell Swepson played a good supporting role taking 3 for 55 which was his best Test bowling figures while two paceman Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc took one wicket apiece.
Australia started their first innings with a solid 47 runs stand between openers David Warner and Usman Kawaja while Warne was out first 25 off 24 balls and off spinner Ramesh Mendis made a first breakthrough. Marnus Labuschagne was the second victim of Ramesh Mendis to finished the day 2 for 35. The experienced batter Steve Smith was the last wicket of the day unfortunately run out for 6 in 11 balls.
Kawaja was unbeaten 47 in 86 balls with 5 fours while Travis Head was remain on 6 in 11 balls. The second day will continued today from 10 am.
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