Aus in SL: Lyon claims five-fer to dismiss host for 212 as Aussies end Day 1 at 98-3

Even as Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson spun a web around Sri Lanka's batters to dismiss them for 212, the host's spinners, particularly Ramesh Mendis bowled brilliantly to share honours on day one of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia here at Galle International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday (29).

The tourists reached 98 for 3 at stumps, trailed by 114 runs.

Openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja showed scant respect for Sri Lankan bowlers as they hammered their way into a position of strength, scoring briskly on a pitch that saw turn and bounce from the first session onwards.

Australia started off strongly, scoring over 5 runs per over but Ramesh Mendis trapped David Warner for 25 to end a threatening opening stand.

For Warner, attack was the best form of defence as he accumulated runs quickly.

But with his departure, the run rate drop down to under 4, with batters taking a more cautious approach as Sri Lankan spinners bowled tightly, testing the patience of the Australians.

Trying to counter attack, Marnus Labuschagne paid the price when his reverse sweep off Mendis went straight into the hands of Asitha Fernando at point.

Mendis would've picked up his third wicket if not for a missed stumping by Niroshan Dickwella.  Khawaja charged down the pitch, beaten by the turn, but missed it completely.

However, Dickwella fumbled and an opportunity went begging.

A terrible mix up saw dangerous Steven Smith walking back to the dressing room after being run out for 6.

Australia hung themselves to end the day on 98 for 3 with Khawaja on 47 not out and Travis Head on 6.

Earlier, after the quicks made the early breakthrough, Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson ran through the Sri Lanka innings, bowling them out for 212.

Lyon picked up five wickets, his 20th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, while Swepson claimed three as Sri Lanka ended their innings just 42 minutes into the final session of play.

After winning the toss, Sri Lanka, unsurprisingly decided to bat first on a pitch that showed early signs of turn and bounce.

But the Australian bowlers tested the Sri Lankan batters consistently, bowling at tight line and lengths.

Australian pacemen Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc claimed a wicket each in the first session.

Then their spinners Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson struck, removing Sri Lanka’s top and middle-order.

Australian captain Pat Cummins snared the first wicket of the Test series when he dismissed Pathum Nissanka caught behind when the score was on 38.

Kusal Mendis followed soon, edging Michael Starc to wicket-keeper as Sri Lanka slumped to 42 for 2 by the 17th over of the match.

Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews stuck around as Sri Lanka went to lunch at 68 for 2 but the Australians hit back strongly after the break, claiming three rapid wickets.

Karunaratne survived on 15 when Marnus Labuschagne put down a tough chance off Lyon but departed soon after lunch when a diving David Warner held onto a brilliant catch at gully off Lyon.

The close in-fielders had appealed for a lbw first but the ball had taken a think inside edge before ballooning to gully where Warner dived full length to his left to hold onto it.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Mathews then shared a brief 23 runs for the fourth wicket but de Silva was sent back to the dressing room by a perfect Swepson delivery that grazed the outside edge on its way to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

Another wonderful delivery saw Dinesh Chandimal walking back to the pavilion on a golden duck after edging Swepson to Warner at second slip who held on to it after a juggle.

Mathews and Niroshan Dickwella then shared 42 for the sixth wicket before Mathews became Lyons' second victim, glancing a simple catch to Warner at leg slip.

Despite wickets falling at one end Niroshan Dickwella kept fighting.

He employed the sweep and reverse sweep to best effect and reached his 21st Test half century off 42 balls.

He was well assisted by Ramesh Mendis, the spinning all-rounder, as Sri Lanka reached 191 for 6 at tea.

But Mendis was removed early into the final session of play by Lyon trapping him leg before for 22.

Dickwella who was batting with aggression and intent, followed soon when an attempted convention sweep ended up offering a think inside edge to wicketkeeper.

He departed for 58 off 59 balls before Lasith Embuldeniya slog-sweep his second ball over midwicket boundary off Lyon to bring up 200 on the board for Sri Lanka.

He was however Lyon’s fifth victim of the match when he was caught wide mid-on by Usman Khawaja.

Debutant Jeffery Vandersay was the last man out as he swept Swepson to the hands of Starc near the rope.

Sri Lanka have picked four spinners for the series opener and just one quick, after their slower bowlers took 54 wickets across three Tests on Australia's last visit in 2016.

Australia, meanwhile, have gone with two spinners, with Labuschagne and Travis Head as part-time turners, after the latter overcome a hamstring injury to play.

Sri Lanka (1st innings)

Pathum Nissanka c Carey b Cummins 23

Dimuth Karunaratne C Warner b Lyon 28

Kusal Mendis c Carey b Starc 03

Angelo Mathews c Warner b Lyon 39

Dhananjaya de Silva c Carey v Swepson 14

Niroshan Dickwella c Carey b Lyon 58

Ramen Mendis lbw b Lyon 22

Jefferey Vandersay c Starc b Swepson 06

Lasith Embuldeniya c Khawaja b Lyon 06

Asitha Fernando not out 02

Extras (b5, lb6) 11

Total (all out; 59 overs) 212

Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Nissanka, 12.1ov), 2-42 (K. Mendis, 16.1ov), 3-74 (Karunaratne, 29.2ov), 4-97 (de Silva, 36.1ov), 5-97 (Chandimal, 36.2ov), 6-139 (Mathews, 43.1ov), 7-193 (R. Mendis, 53.5ov), 8-198 (Dickwella, 55.3ov), 9-206 (Embuldeniya, 57.5ov), 10-212 (Vandersay, 58.6ov)

Bowling: Mitchell Starc 9-0-31-1, Pat Cummins 12-4-25-1, Nathan Lyon 25-2-90-5, Micthell Swepson 13-0-55-3

Australia (1st innings)

Usman Khawaja not out 47

David Warner lbw b R. Mendis 25

Marnus Labuschagne c Fernando b R. Mendis 13

Steven Smith run out 06

Travis Head not out 06

Extras (nb1) 1

Total (3 wickets; 25 overs) 98

Yet to bat: Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson

Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Warner, 9.1ov), 2-75 (Labuschagne, 15.2ov), 3-83 (Smith, 19.1ov)

Bowling: Asitha Fernando 1-0-9-0, Dhananjaya de Silva 3-0-4-0, Lasith Embuldeniya 7-0-39-0, Ramesh Mendis 11-0-35-2, Jeffrey Vandersay 3-0-11-0