On a wicket renowned for being spin friendly, Mitchell Starc claimed the best figures ever by an Australian fast bowler in Sri Lanka as the hosts were dismissed for 281 on the first day in Galle. Kusal Mendis picked up where he had left off in Pallekele and steered the Sri Lankan innings with 86, but Australia kept chipping away throughout the day and prevented Sri Lanka running away with things.
Still, the Australians will know that Galle is the kind of venue at which run-scoring becomes difficult as a match wears on, and Sri Lanka’s performance having won the toss and chosen to bat was still solid. Australia’s batsmen, confounded by Sri Lanka’s spinners in the first Test, will need to show much greater resolve in order to make a contest of this match.
Australia did well to finish off the innings without too much tail-end damage; the last five wickets fell for 57 runs and all came after tea as Australia’s fast men found some reverse swing and the spinners finally gained some rewards. Angelo Mathews, who had taken the attack to Australia’s spinners during the middle session, departed for 54 when he flashed at Mitchell Marsh and was caught behind.
Australia could have had their next wicket when Dhananjaya de Silva edged Marsh to first slip, but Steven Smith spilled the opportunity and Peter Nevill was unable to clasp Smith’s parry. Instead they had to wait until Dilruwan Perera was lbw for 16 when he tried to whip Nathan Lyon, bowling around the wicket through leg, but was trapped lbw by a ball that pitched in line and straightened.
Eventually Australia did get de Silva, who had been dropped on 17 and went on to make 37. He gave the left-arm spinner Jon Holland his first Test wicket by attempting to paddle a low full toss. De Silva missed and was hit in line, and the umpire was given a straightforward lbw decision to rule against the batsman.
Starc came back to finish off the tail, trapping Lakshan Sandakan lbw with a delivery that swung in, and then bowling Rangana Herath with another ball that tailed in. Starc finished with 5 for 44, not only the best figures by an Australian fast bowler in Sri Lanka, but the finest analysis for any visiting fast bowler in a Test in Galle.
-ESPN
