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It was a historic day for Australian batters at the Galle International Stadium as they carved out a gigantic total in their first innings to lay their hands firmly on the proceedings of the 1st Test match against Sri Lanka. The visitors started the second day after an impressive display with the bat on Day 1 to garner 330 runs for the loss of 2 wickets with skipper Steve Smith and opener Usman Khawaja on the crease.
A masterclass from Australian batters
The first wicket of the day fell in the form of Smith but by the time Sri Lankan bowlers could get hold of the legendary Australian batter, he had already played a remarkable innings of 141 runs off 251 balls. Problems for Sri Lankan bowlers did not end with Smith’s dismissal, debutant Josh Inglis joined forces with the already se💦t Khawajaౠ to continue the onslaught and dominate the opening session of the day.
The next major breakthrough for Sri Lanka came consecutively as Prabath Jayasuriya got rid of both the Australian batters who had combined a marathon partnership of 146 runs for the 5th wicket before Khawaja’s dream knock of 232 runs came to an end. This was a new career best for the 38-year-old as he scripted history by becoming the fir🅷st Australian batter to score a double century in 🌺Sri Lanka.
Inglis departed soon after Khawaja. The youngster also impressed with the bat just like the rest of the A💟ustralian batting unit scoring his maiden Test century. The debutant played a power-packed 102 runs off 94 balls with 10 boundaries and a towering six.
With 570 runs on the board after Inglis’s dismissal, Australia knew the kind of command they hold in this Test match. Soon after Beau Webster departed from the crease, the Australian skipper decided to declare the innings on 654/6 with Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc not out on 46 and 19 runs respectively. This is Australia’s highest-ever total against Sri Lanka in a Test match, surpassing thꦕe p🅠revious record of 617/5 back in 1995 at the W.A.C.A. in Perth.
Also Read: Netizens go berserk as Usman Khawaja smashes double ton against Sri Lanka i🅠n 1st Test
A horror-show from Sri Lanka
For Sri Lanka, the second day was dreadful and disappointing, much like Day 1. The Lankan bowlers gave away runs in hundreds, only Jayasuriya and Jeffrey Vandersay getting some success against Australian batters, taking 3 wickets each but giving away 19♊3 and 182 runs respectively.
The humiliating display of the home side continued with the bat, as openers threw their wicket away cheaply to put Sri Lanka in further trouble. With Dimuth Karunaratne’s dismissal on 7 runs, Mitchell Starc added another milestone in his coveted career by completing 700 wickets in international cricket thus becoming the 4th Australian bowler to do so after Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Brett Lee. At the end of day’s play, top-order batter Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis were oܫn the crease for Sri Lanka with 44/3 in 15 overs. Sri Lanka are currently trailing behind the vis🥃itors by 610 runs.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Celebration, Applauds, and 𝑺𝒂𝒋𝒅𝒂𝒉 ✨
A special maiden-2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ moment for Usman Khawaja. He's the first Muslim man from 🇦🇺 to reach the milestone!
— OBuR (@Oburkhoulun)
The raw emotions of a pair of proud parents soaking in every bit of the moment when they’re so🌱n made a century on Test debut. What a moment for Josh Inglis𒁃 along with his dad Martin & mum Sarah
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
J🐬osh Inglis becomes the first Yorkshireman to score a Test hundred in the Ashes year of 2025 with a debut effort for Australia v Sri Lanka in Galle. Here he is gettin𒊎g a Year 8 sports award from Kaiser Chiefs as a 13-year-old in 2008, two years before emigrating.
— Richard Gibson (@richardgibsonDM)
WHAT A CATCH BY TRAVIS HEAD. 🥶
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Mathews does a Warner!
Defends the ball witch travels onto the stumps but the bails don't come off.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS)
AUS players to score a Test double ton after turning 38
Don Bradman
USMAN KHAWAJA
— Swamp (@sirswampthing)
Nathan McSweeny is a very good fielder. Super impressed with his work in all the tests he’s involved in. Hopefully the selectors give him the opportunity to play moꦏre Shield cricket and really put himself forward for the future, not just tour and run drinks.
— Connor (@connorbradley4)
Australia really nee🎐d to get Dinesh Chandimal soon. Nightmares of Galle 2022 still flashes massively
— Aayushman Vishwanathan (@Aayushm🌊ansmudge)
700 international wickets for starcyyyyyy
😭🙏🫶— Pat Cummins FanGirl (@30Cummins)
700 international wickets for Mitchel🌠l Starc 👊🏏
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Anoth☂er great day for Australia, racked up a huge total and then reduced SL to 44-3 at sܫtumps
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA)
