GALLE, Sri Lanka — In a remarkable display of dominance, Australia concluded the first Test against Sri Lanka with a remarkable victory, wrapping up the match with a session and a day to spare. This match marks a historic defeat for Sri Lanka, as they faced their largest loss in Test history, succumbing to an innings-and-242-run defeat on Saturday. Previously, their most significant Test defeat had been an innings-and-239-run loss to India in Nagpur back in 2017.
The Australian spin duo of Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon were instrumental in dismantling Sri Lanka’s batting order, claiming a total of 16 wickets between them over the course of the match. Kuhnemann, who had already achieved a five-wicket haul in the first innings, concluded with aggregates of nine wickets for 149 runs, marking his best performance in Test cricket to date.
Australia’s captain, Steven Smith, praised the team’s performance, highlighting the crucial role of openers in setting the tone. “Usman (Khawaja) was phenomenal with his double century, placing significant pressure on the bowlers. Scoring 650 granted us the opportunity to dictate the match,” Smith remarked. He continued, “The first day’s performance didn’t completely reflect our ultimate score. Though it took some spin, our batting was exceptional, along with our bowling. Having three spinners allowed us to keep them fresh and impact the game iteratively.”
Sri Lanka’s batting lineup showed very little resistance throughout the match, with eight wickets lost before lunch and another seven falling between lunch and tea. Australia’s bowlers maintained their strong grip through smart strategies and exceptional fielding.
In the first innings, Sri Lanka had allowed Australia to accumulate an impressive score of 654 for six declared. Khawaja’s double century, coupled with Josh Inglis’ debut century and Smith’s second Test century, placed the visitors in an undoubtedly commanding position.
On Sri Lanka’s side, Dinesh Chandimal emerged as the standout performer in the first innings with a score of 72, while Jeffrey Vandersay showcased some aggression in the second innings with a rapid 53 runs off just 47 balls, featuring seven fours and two sixes. Despite these efforts, they were unable to stave off defeat, and Vandersay’s reckless dismissal occurred just four runs short of surpassing their previous record for the heaviest defeat.
The match highlighted severe deficiencies in Sri Lanka’s batting with an evident lack of partnerships, discipline, and effective shot selection. Having managed only two half-centuries throughout the game, the Sri Lankan batting lineup will surely face scrutiny, and changes in the team are anticipated ahead of the second Test, set to begin in Galle on Thursday.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva had expressed aspirations to reclaim the Warne-Murali Trophy, which Sri Lanka lost back in 2019. However, with Australia now holding a commanding 1-0 lead in the two-match series, the trophy remains securely in their possession.
De Silva also aimed to elevate Sri Lanka to the third position in the World Test Championship standings, but instead, they have dropped to seventh. “We had our moments but couldn’t capitalize on them,” he lamented. “We dropped four catches and made a few poor reviews, which came back to haunt us.”
Khawaja received the man of the match honors. “It’s a great feeling to score my first double hundred. I’m very thankful to be playing for Australia,” said Khawaja, who has experienced the challenges of playing in Galle during his extensive cricket career. “I have developed a few strategies to deal with spin. Being on my fifth tour here, I’ve made several mistakes in the past, and I believe all that experience played a significant role in this match.”
