Australia steamrolled Sri Lanka’s listless batting order over two innings on day four to cap a near-perfect performance.
Australia defeated Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs with 654 for 6 Dec (Vandersay 53*, Mathews 41, Lyon 4-78, Kuhnemann 4-86).
Australia finished the first Test with a nearly faultless performance, sweeping through Sri Lanka’s listless batting order across two innings on day four, dismissing any worries about Galle’s erratic weather.
Wet weather is also predicted for later on the fourth day, which seemed to threaten Australia’s hopes of a straight-up win after two sessions on the third day were washed out.In a contest that essentially lasted just nine sessions, Australia regained their dominance by taking an incredible 15 wickets to complete a huge innings and 242-run victory. However, the rain held off. Australia batted 154 overs in their one innings, while Sri Lanka batted 106.5 overs over two innings, demonstrating the size of the gap between the two teams.Australia, who had a spin-heavy assault and were without captain Pat Cummins, put on a fantastic display. After Australia took advantage of a slow surface and won a favorable toss, everything went according to plan for stand-in captain Steven Smith, who scored the best total in Asia’s history.
Australia made a brilliant move by switching up their batting order, as Josh Inglis scored a quick century on his debut. choosing three spinners, with left-armer Matthew Kuhnemann demonstrating his worth on the subcontinent by taking nine wickets in the game after recovering quickly from a thumb injury he suffered in a BBL encounter on January 16.Australia faced an incompetent Sri Lanka, despite their excellent preparation and execution of their plans with bat and ball. The sides have historically played fiercely competitive matches in this terrain, but Sri Lanka was thoroughly humiliated and will have to swiftly recover before the second Test, which begins at the same location on February 6.
Australia has kept the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy as a result.
Sri Lanka wanted to regroup and gather enough will to get into the late afternoon when rain was predicted after being forced to follow-on after losing 5 for 9 to be bowled out for 165 in their first innings.
