Australia are on the brink of securing a clean sweep in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, as the hosts find themselves in deep trouble at the close of play on Day 3 of the second Test at Galle International Stadium.
With Sri Lanka struggling at 311/6 in their second innings, Australia remains in control after posting an imposing 414 in response to Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 257. Effectively, Sri Lanka is at 54/8, making Australia’s position even stronger going into Day 4.
Although the match appears to be tilting heavily in Australia’s favor, the unpredictability of Galle’s conditions keeps the contest intriguing. Historically, the pitch has been known to turn dramatically, reminiscent of the famous 2009 Test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, where the visitors collapsed from 71/2 to 117 all out, chasing a modest 168. This time, Prabath Jayasuriya could pose a similar threat to Australia, much like Rangana Herath did back then. However, as long as Kusal Mendis remains at the crease, Sri Lanka can still dream of stretching their lead beyond 100, or even 150, which could make the chase tricky on a deteriorating pitch.
The Australians are keen to wrap things up quickly on the fourth morning, with play set to commence at 4:30 AM GMT on Sunday, February 9, 2025. The visitors will be eager to take the remaining wickets early to avoid a challenging chase on an unpredictable surface. Meanwhile, cricket fans can also catch the ODI tri-series in Pakistan featuring Pakistan and New Zealand, along with the one-off Test between Zimbabwe and Ireland.
Australia’s left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann spoke to broadcasters at the end of the day’s play, expressing satisfaction with how things unfolded. He acknowledged the importance of dismissing Angelo Mathews before stumps, crediting his team’s discipline for maintaining control. Kuhnemann also praised Nathan Lyon, the highest wicket-taker of the series, and admitted he had been observing Prabath Jayasuriya closely to improve his own bowling. While Australia is in a strong position, he cautioned that the match is not over yet and emphasized the need for their batters to finish the job.
Despite Australia’s commanding position, there were tense moments during the day. With Mathews and Mendis building a strong partnership, Steven Smith and his teammates grew anxious about Sri Lanka’s lead. However, Australia’s fielding once again proved pivotal, with brilliant catches by Beau Webster and Smith shifting the momentum. Lyon and Kuhnemann led the bowling attack, sharing seven wickets between them, though the absence of Mitchell Starc, who bowled only four overs due to fitness concerns, was felt.
Sri Lanka deserves credit for showing resilience. At one stage, they seemed headed for a massive first-innings deficit, but Prabath Jayasuriya’s five-wicket haul helped restrict Australia to 414. Later, the middle order—featuring Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kusal Mendis—fought back valiantly after a top-order collapse. By capitalizing on a softer ball post-30 overs, they managed to score 113 runs in the final session, albeit at the cost of losing crucial wickets in quick succession.
The closing moments of the day brought high drama. Sri Lanka was cruising at 198/5 before Mathews’ ambitious shot led to his dismissal, followed swiftly by two more wickets, reducing them to 211/8. The sudden collapse of three wickets for 13 runs in just 31 balls left Sri Lanka reeling and Australia firmly in command.
As stumps were called, the cameras captured Smith contemplating whether to take the extra half-hour to force a finish. Realizing that Australia still had runs to chase, he opted against it, leading his team off the field with a confident smile. With just two wickets standing between them and a series victory, Australia will look to complete their mission in style on Day 4.
