Ausgtralia in box seat after Khawaja, Green and Carey show

Australia took a healthy first innings lead of 101 runs with two wickets in hand at stumps on day two after rain and strong winds ruined three hours of play on day two of the first Test here at Galle International Cricket Stadium.

Usman Khawaja (71), Alex Carey (45) and Cameron Green (77) all contributed to the score as Australia added 215 runs to the score in just 44 overs, having resumed the day on 98 for 3.

If the morning rains and winds broke the hearts of few hundred spectators awaiting the start of second day’s play in the morning hours, the bright sunshine in the afternoon provided a perfect setting for an enthralling two session of cricket.

A makeshift stand at the Galle International Cricket stadium were among the many structures that collapsed as strong winds swept across the picturesque venue delaying the proceedings but when the match finally started at 1.45 pm, Sri Lanka enjoyed early success.

Diving to his right, Dhananjaya de Silva who opened bowling from the Fortress end, held on to a spectacular catch to remove Travis Head of his own bowling when Australia had added just two runs to their overnight score of 98.

Head paid the price trying to play against the spin towards mid-wicket where a leading edge ballooned to the right of the bowler. Soon after Usman Khawaja reached his 17th Test half century through a drive through the covers off de Silva and was threatening to score big after putting on a rapid 57-run stand with Cameron Green.

However, the introduction of Jeffrey Vandersay from the Fortress end made the breakthrough Sri Lanka was anxiously looking for when Khawaja was sharply grabbed in the fingertips by Pathum Nissanka at short-leg. Trying to defend a ball that pitched on the middle, got a thick inside edge as Vandersay jumped in the air in celebration of his maiden scalp.

However, Alex Carey and Green then negated Sri Lanka’s spin threat effectively using their feet and employing the sweep and the reverse sweep. They began the day with a deficit of 114 runs and despite losing two wickets, they were quick to erase the deficit batting aggressively—the best form of defence on a turning track.

The pair shared 84 in 93 balls for the sixth wicket before Carey was sent back to the dressing room, five runs short of a well-deserved half century when Dinesh Chandimal held on a well-judged catch running back from mid-off. It was Ramesh Mendis’s first wicket of the day, and third overall. Green was batting beautifully, negating Sri Lanka’s spinners, using his feet, sweeping and reverse sweeping to the good effect. But he was finally removed by Mendis trapping the batter leg before out. A loud appeal by the bowler saw the umpire in deep thought before raising his finger.

Green referred it to the third umpire to no avail as three reds confirmed the ball hitting the wicket. Vandersay struck almost immediately, holding on to a low return catch to dismiss Mitchell Starc. Skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon remained unbeaten on 26 and 8 when bad light stopped play at 5.40, a moment after Cummins sent one to the road over long on, off Vandersay. Ramesh Mendis was the pick of the bowler for  Sri Lanka claiming 4 for 107 while Vandersay picked up 2 for 6.

Scorecard

Sri Lanka 212 all out (Niroshan Dickwella 58, Angelo Mathews 39: Nathan Lyon 5/90,  Michell Swepson 3/55)

Australia (1^st Innings)

Usman Khawaja not out 47

David Warner lbw R. Mendis 25

Marnus Labuschagne c Fernando b R. Mendis 13

Steven Smith run out (Dickwella/Mendis) 06

Travis Head c & b de Silva 06

Cameron Green lbw R.Mendis 77

Alex Carey c Chandimal b R.Mendis 45

Mitchell Starc  c & b Vandersay 10

Pat Cummins not out 26

Nathan Lyon not out 08

Extras  (b 20, lb 3, nb 1, w 2) 26

Total (for 8 wickets in 69 overs) 313

Fall of wickets: 1-47 (Warner, 9.1 ov), 2-75 (Labuschagne, 15.2 ov), 3-83 (Smith, 19.1 ov), 4-100 (Head, 26.1 ov), 5-157 (Khawaja, 38.6 ov), 6-241 (Carey, 54.3 ov), 7-278 (Green, 63.5 ov), 8-278 (Starc, 64.2 ov)

Bowling: Asitha Fernando 8-1-34-0 , Dhananjaya de Silva 5-0-8-1, Lasith Embuldeniya 15-0-73-0, Ramesh Mendis 31-0-107-4, Jeffrey Vandersay 10-0-68-2