Australia thrashed Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the opening Test of their series in Galle, securing their biggest Test win on the subcontinent.
Australia achieved their most dominant Test victory on the subcontinent, crushing Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the opening match of the series in Galle . The Australia n team secured a remarkable 15 wickets on day four, forcing Sri Lanka to follow on and ultimately clinching a decisive victory by tea.
Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon (3 for 57, 4 for 78) and left-arm off-spinner Matthew Kuhnemann (5 for 63, 4 for 86) spearheaded the Australian attack, delivering a masterclass in spin bowling. Kuhnemann's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he achieved a five-wicket haul despite having dislocated his thumb just two weeks prior while playing in the Big Bash League. His crucial wicket of Jeffrey Vandersay (53), caught at backward point, sealed the victory for Australia shortly after 3pm local time.Sri Lanka fell short of the imposing target set by Australia, who amassed a formidable total largely thanks to player-of-the-match Usman Khawaja's exceptional 232, stand-in captain Steve Smith's 141, and debutant Josh Inglis's impressive 102. Australia's victory surpasses their previous best in Asia, a 2002 defeat of Pakistan in the UAE by an innings and 198 runs. This triumph ranks as Australia's fourth-biggest victory in history, following triumphs over South Africa in 2002, England in 1946, and South Africa again in 1950.The defeat is Sri Lanka's most significant in Test history, surpassing their 239-run loss to India in 2017. Vandersay seemed aware of Sri Lanka's new low, kicking at the dirt when Mitch Starc caught him the ball after reaching his half-century. The wicket had deteriorated by the time Sri Lanka batted in their second innings, but the hosts still managed some embarrassing batting on home soil. Notably, veteran opener Dimuth Karunaratne (0) completely missed a Todd Murphy delivery, which cannoned into his off stump. Fellow opener Oshada Fernando (6) made one of the worst reviews ever seen, sending a Starc in-swinger upstairs despite the ball-tracker clearly showing it hitting middle stump for the first wicket of the second innings. These two blunders left Sri Lanka in a precarious position. Kuhnemann continued his impressive form, claiming breakthrough wickets throughout Saturday. He triggered a collapse in the first innings with the wicket of Kusal Mendis (caught at square leg), leaving Sri Lanka all out for 165 after starting the day at 136 for five. Kuhnemann then secured his second five-wicket haul from four Test matches. In the second innings, he dismissed strike weapon Kamindu Mendis and captain Dhananjaya de Silva (39) for the second time in the match, drawing a nick that was caught by Beau Webster at cover
Cricket Test Matches Australia Sri Lanka Galle Nathan Lyon Matthew Kuhnemann Usman Khawaja Steve Smith Josh Inglis
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