Galle, Sri Lanka – February 1, 2025: Australia secured a commanding victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, winning by an innings and 242 runs at the Galle International Stadium.
This dominant performance gave Australia an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, marking one of Sri Lanka’s most humiliating defeats in Test history.
Few could have anticipated such a swift and one-sided contest, but Australia completely outplayed Sri Lanka in all aspects of the game. The home team struggled with both bat and ball, failing to put up any meaningful resistance. This defeat surpasses Sri Lanka’s previous record for their worst Test loss—an innings and 239-run defeat against India in 2017 at Nagpur.
Australia’s Batting Masterclass
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Australia needed just one innings to assert their dominance. Travis Head set the tone with an aggressive start, while Usman Khawaja’s magnificent double century (his maiden in Test cricket) put the visitors in firm control. Steven Smith’s elegant hundred saw him join the exclusive 10,000-run club in Test cricket. Debutant Josh Inglis further compounded Sri Lanka’s misery with a splendid century, guiding Australia to a mammoth 654/6 before declaring late on Day 2.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled throughout the innings, unable to maintain consistency or capitalize on rare chances. Prabath Jayasuriya and Jeffrey Vandersay took three wickets apiece, but their efforts did little to halt the Australian onslaught.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Collapse
Facing a daunting task, Sri Lanka needed a strong response but instead found themselves reeling at 30/3 early on Day 3. Dinesh Chandimal offered a brief resistance, and the morning session saw some decent partnerships. However, none of the batsmen could convert their starts into significant scores. Rain delayed proceedings, offering Sri Lanka temporary respite, but Day 4 was a nightmare for the hosts.
Australia’s bowling attack, led by Matthew Kuhnemann’s five-wicket haul and Nathan Lyon’s three scalps, dismantled Sri Lanka’s fragile batting lineup. The hosts folded for just 165 in 53 overs, trailing by 489 runs.
Follow-On and Final Collapse
With such a huge lead, Australia enforced the follow-on for the first time in 22 years. Sri Lanka’s woes continued as they lost two wickets within the first four overs. The middle order showed brief resistance with small partnerships, but Australia’s spinners ensured that no batsman could stage a meaningful comeback. Jeffrey Vandersay played a late cameo, scoring his maiden half-century, but it only delayed the inevitable. Nathan Lyon and Kuhnemann shared eight wickets, each claiming four, as Sri Lanka was bowled out once again, sealing their worst-ever defeat.
Post-Match Reactions
Usman Khawaja was named Player of the Match for his brilliant double century. Reflecting on his performance, Khawaja expressed gratitude for contributing on a challenging surface and emphasized the importance of a team effort.
Sri Lanka’s captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, acknowledged that winning the toss was crucial in Galle but lamented his side’s batting failures. He credited Jeffrey Vandersay for his late resistance but admitted Sri Lanka had missed key opportunities in the field.
Australia’s skipper, Steven Smith, praised his team’s collective effort, highlighting Khawaja’s innings and the bowlers’ execution. He noted that playing with three spinners had been a strategic decision that worked well in these conditions.
Looking Ahead
With a comprehensive victory under their belt, Australia heads into the second and final Test brimming with confidence. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, must regroup and reassess their strategy if they hope to salvage the series. The second Test will take place at the Galle International Stadium from February 6, 2025, with the first ball scheduled at 4:30 AM GMT. Stay tuned for all the latest updates and live coverage.