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The third day of the second and final Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia was marked by developments which turned out to be consequential for the outcome of the exciting 5-day contest between the two nations. As the match entered its most excit൲ing phase, Sri Lanka were on their way to develop an impressive partnership but the home side collapsed during the dying moments to saturate whatever momentum they had built during 🍰the day.
Australia bowled out with an impressive lead
The day started off as the heroes of Day 2 for Australia, Steve Smith and Alex Carey were still on the crease and appeared set to lead their team to a grand 1st innings total. However, the pitch had extra help for the spinners due to which the spin duo of Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris proved detrimental to the Australian innings.
Jayasuriya in particular emerged as a bone of contention for the visitors as he picked up two set batters followed by another dismissal in the form of Josh Inglis. Peiris on the other hand got rid of Cooper Connolly as Sri Lankan wrapped up the tailenders quickly to bowl out the visitors on 🍸414 runs in their 1st innings with a lead of 1🗹57 runs in place.
Angelo Mathhews and Kusal Mendis tried to avert the collapse but failed
With a formidable lead and the task of playing amidst the relentless spin onslaught from seasoned Australian spinners like Nathan Lyon, Sri Lanka had a mammoth task to avert the innings from getting derailed and set a competitive target against the Aussies to save the Test match. However, Sri Lankan top-order succumbed completely to Australian bowlers and gave their wickets away to the spin duo of Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann who struck for the visitors at cruꦬcial junctures to put Aus🏅tralia in a commanding position.
The two bowlers dismantled the Sri Lankan batting order with Kuhnemann getting rid of openers Patthum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne while Lyon getting better off Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis. At a time when it appeared too easy for the Australians a partnership developed between Angelo Matthews and Kusal Mendis to add some crucᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚial runs to the Sri Lanka’s total and saturate Australia’s 1st innings but a rash shot from Matthews marked anothe꧟r key moment in the day as it vaporized whatever momentum the home side had built.
At the end of the day’s play, Sri Lanka were struggling on 211/8 with a slender lead of just 54 runs. Kusal is still on the crease for Sri Lanka with Kuhnemann taking Jayasuriya’s wicket on the last ball of the day. Kuhnemann and Lyon had a stellar day for Australia as they managed to take 4 and 3 wickets respectively.
Also Watch: Prabath Jayasuriya bowls a jaffa to dismiss J🍷osh Inglis for a duck on Day 3 of the second Test
Here’s how Twitter reacted
NATHAN LYON
Line length and his control is simply outst🍸anding! �🍰�
— 𝐉 𝐄 𝐑 𝐎 𝐌 𝐄 👽 (@cosmik_shiT)
One day Beau Webste🉐r will take 20 catches in a Test ꦚmatch.
— Paul Dennett (@PaulDennett_)
Another defeat for Lankans?
They need to play till tomorrow lunch to avoid a defeat.
We need to build a whole diffe⛦rent team for test matches. has to go around the country and find the best defensive players who use their brains while playing.— Asitha Kalinga 🇱🇰 (@akalinga)
Ohhhh myyyyyyy smithhhhhh
— Coach lukas (@lukeR15sky)
Mathews should be so frustrated to have thrown it away was playing so well and was set for a magical knock. Now Australia gonna seal this game with ease🌃
— 🆁🅾🅻🅴🆇ᶜʳⁱᶜᵏᵉᵗᵍᵉᵉᵏ (@RoshanSriram123)
From Heino to Kuhnamatata to Heineken, the Aussie slip cordon is going through an entire repe🌱rtoire as they keep coming up nicknames for Matt Kuhnemann
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07)
Always excited to watch when Lyono bats in the subcontinent v Spin
It’s a sweepfest 🧹— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist)
//x.com/blissyu2/status/1888194346954166300
The last 3 wickets that fell spoiled Sri Lanka's good day.
— Rohit Baliyan (@rohit_balyan)
Another day, another screamer from Steve Smith 😱
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Another masterclass from Smith, kept changing the bowlers well and Australia a𒀰re on the cu♒sp of a victory now
— 🔁 (@Tutterdotcom)
