Sri Lanka will resume their innings on Day 2, hoping to extend their total and push for a formidable score against Australia. The opening day of this gripping Test match in Galle was a fascinating contest of attrition, with neither side willing to concede an inch.
Batting first on a deteriorating pitch and surpassing the 200-run mark has given Sri Lanka a slight advantage, but Australia’s disciplined bowling has kept them well in the hunt. A fair assessment? Perhaps a 60-40 tilt in Sri Lanka’s favor.
Why does Australia still hold a 40% chance? Losing the toss in Galle is never ideal, but Australia managed to pick up nine wickets on the first day, an effort that deserves immense credit. Steven Smith led astutely in the field, displaying tactical innovation, rotating his bowlers effectively, and maintaining relentless pressure on the Sri Lankan batters. The second session was particularly crucial for Australia, as they squeezed Sri Lanka with four wickets for just 57 runs, ensuring the hosts couldn’t reach a more dominant position. The highlight of the day was Mitchell Starc’s impeccable spell, where his five-over burst yielded just two runs and a wicket, unsettling the Sri Lankan lineup with both ball and verbal aggression.
Australia entered the match with only three frontline bowlers, making the contributions of Matt Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon even more vital. The duo bowled with patience, landing the ball in testing areas. When breakthroughs weren’t coming, Smith turned to part-timers such as Beau Webster, Campbell Kellaway, and Travis Head. Interestingly, Head played a crucial role in dismissing Kamindu Mendis, showcasing his golden arm in crucial moments.
Nathan Lyon, who now boasts 150 Test wickets in Asia—the first non-Asian bowler to achieve this milestone—expressed satisfaction with the team’s effort. He praised Kuhnemann for his consistency and discussed the dry nature of the pitch, which allowed him to extract substantial turn. Lyon’s performance brought back memories of the legendary Shane Warne, whose record of 127 wickets in Asia now stands surpassed.
Sri Lanka, despite losing nine wickets, would not be too disheartened. In these conditions, a total of around 230 is competitive, as noted by former cricketers Farveez Maharoof and Russel Arnold. However, they will rue their middle-session collapse, where they slumped from 93/1 to 150/6. The rescue act was led by Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis, who both struck fifties, stabilizing the innings when it threatened to unravel. Chandimal’s gritty 74 was pivotal, while Mendis ensured that Sri Lanka did not fold before stumps.
The big question for Day 2? How long can Kusal Mendis hold off Australia? If he finds support from the tail, Sri Lanka could push towards 300, which remains within reach. Australia, however, will be determined to wrap up the innings swiftly. Given their own recent experiences, such as Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland frustrating India at the MCG, they know the frustration a last-wicket partnership can bring.
With the first ball scheduled for 4:30 AM GMT on Friday, February 7, 2025, the anticipation is high. As the action unfolds, cricket fans can also tune in to the first ODI between India and England, where England were restricted to 248 in Nagpur, or follow the Zimbabwe-Ireland Test in Bulawayo, where Ireland staged a recovery from 31/5.
Stay tuned for an enthralling Day 2 between Sri Lanka and Australia!