Sri Lanka vs Australia 1st Test: Australia Pile 645/5 d, Sri Lanka Struggles at 44/3 by Day 2 End!

The Warne-Murali Trophy has kicked off with an exciting start for Australia, as they let their batsmen do the talking while Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled. Usman Khawaja's maiden double century and Josh Inglis's debut ton further sank Sri Lanka's chances. On a day when taking wickets proved difficult, Australia made significant strides by dismissing three of Sri Lanka’s top-order batsmen, ending Day 2 on a high note. With Australia continuing to dominate, Sri Lanka was left reeling by the end of the day. Here’s a short recap of the Day 2 review of the Sri Lanka vs. Australia match.

Usman Khawaja's Maiden Double Ton

Both Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja walked in with confidence following a dominant first day. They continued their attacking play, refusing to adopt a defensive stance. Khawaja reached his 150 and raised his bat towards the dugout as their partnership also crossed 200 runs. The two looked unstoppable until Jeffray Vandersay claimed the crucial wicket of Australian captain Steve Smith, trapping him LBW. The stadium erupted in applause as Smith exited the field after scoring a well-made 141 off 251 balls. 

In came debutant Josh Inglis, who, alongside Khawaja, shifted gears, particularly Inglis, who found the boundary consistently. Khawaja, on the other end, slowly made his way to a maiden double century, becoming the oldest player at 38 years old to achieve this milestone in Test cricket. This performance marked a significant comeback for Khawaja, who had faced challenges in building innings against India. His sweet double ton showcased that he still has plenty to offer.

Also Read: SL vs AUS 1st Test Day 2, Tea Report: Usman Khwaja, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis Pile On Misery For Sri Lanka

Jos Inglis's Maiden Ton

Josh Inglis made a remarkable debut, playing an impressive innings against Sri Lanka. He faced minimal pressure, scoring boundaries at will, particularly targeting the spinners to unsettle them. This aggressive approach paid off, allowing him to notch up his maiden ton in just 90 balls—the fastest century by an Australian on debut. Inglis became the 21st Australian to score a century on his debut, comprising 10 fours and 1 six, alongside his partnership with Khawaja that propelled Australia past 600 runs on the scoreboard.

Sri Lanka's Misery Continues

After Australia declared at 654/6, Sri Lanka faced a daunting chase. They came out to bat under immense pressure, which was evident as Mitchell Starc had Oshada Fernando edge to Nathan McSweeney, providing Australia with an immediate breakthrough thanks to Starc's early swing with the new ball. Despite Sri Lanka's defensive resistance against the Australian spin attack, both Khunemann and Nathan Lyon picked up a wicket each, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 44/3 within just 15 overs. Heavy rain then hit Galle Stadium, leading to the end of Day 2, with Australia dominating once again on Sri Lanka's home soil.