Sri Lanka 191/6 at tea

A quick-fire Niroshan Dickwella half-century pulled Sri Lanka out of trouble to reach 191 for 6 at tea after Australian bowlers nearly forced the hosts to wrap up the innings early. The Sri Lanka top order got some starts--but only Dickwella managed to convert it to something big.

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 quicks 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 17^th 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 quick 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 wicket-keeper 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's 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 21^st 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.

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 and will use Labuschagne and Travis Head as part-time turners, after the latter overcome a hamstring injury to play.

Tea Sri Lanka 191 for 6 (Dickwella 51*, Mathews 39, Swepson 2-51, Lyon 2-80) vs Australia