Cricket: Aus in SL: Chandimal’s maiden and majestic 206*, Jayasuriya’s 12-wickets gives an imposing innings win for Lankans

A dashing and match-defining knock of 206 not out from Dinesh Chandimal and a match-winning 12-wickets from debutant Prabath Jayasuriya powered Sri Lankans to a sensational innings-and-a-39-run win over Australia, thereby squaring the two-match series one-all, on Monday (11).  

Chandimal, deservingly adjudged as man-of-the-series, for hitting his maiden and an unfinished double-ton, laid the foundation for the hosts to post a commanding first-innings total of 554, and a precious lead of 190-runs. 

Galle, where the test concluded on the fourth-day, is also where Chandimal registered his personal best of 162 against India. This time, he went onto script a special score surpassing that and renewing with a new best of 206, aided by 16 fours and five sixes’. 

At least two of those maximums came against Mitch Starc, on who’s over, the double centurion whacked two successive sixes to bring up a telling knock.

The former captain, resuming day-three on 118, patiently progressed towards the 150 mark. He took his own cool time in rotating the strike and also not exposing the unrecognized batsman. During that process, he accelerated and delivered a delightful innings.  

In the post-lunch session when it was down to the last man, he switched gears, made intentions clear, and began to take on the bowlers. The 32-year-old, having found it difficult to retain his place, finally unleashed a fearless brand of batting and punished the opposition. 

As Chandimal blazed with a blade in blistering fashion, on the other hand, debutant Prabath Jayasuriya made a mark in his very first test outing. 

Jayasuriya, having enjoyed a dream-debut, tormented and toyed with the Aussies, becoming the wrecker-in-chief for his match-bag of a dozen victims. Aussies went answerless in the second essay as they collapsed faster than the Lankan economy, to which the former seemed to have done some good. 

After a near-fifty-run opening stand, it was only a procession as the men from down under were down-and-out.  The hosts next host Pakistan in another two-match test tour, with the tour-opener set for the same venue on Saturday (16). 

Chief scores: 
Aus: 298 for five (90) (Steven Smith 109 not out, Marnus Labushagne 104, Prabath Jayasuriya 3/90) and 151 all out (41) (Marnus Labushagne 32, Prabath Jayasuriya 6/59, Ramesh Mendis 2/47)
SL: 554 all out (181) (Dinesh Chandimal 206 not out, Dimuth Karunaratne 86, Kusal Mendis 85, Kamindu Mendis 61, Angelo Mathews 52, Mitchell Starc 4/89, Mitchell Swepson 3/103)