Australia began their Test series against Sri Lanka with a resounding victory on Day 1, thanks to centuries from Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith.
Australia enjoyed a triumphant opening day of the Test series against Sri Lanka , except for a brief interruption from a streaker and some untimely rain. Sri Lanka , on the other hand, faced a challenging start after losing the toss in Galle . Travis Head , opening the batting for Australia , silenced critics with a rapid-fire 57 off 40 balls, setting the tone for a dominant innings.
Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith then took charge, forging an unbroken 195-run third-wicket partnership that propelled Australia to 2-330 at the end of the day's play. Khawaja, who had faced questions about his Test future, responded with a commanding 147 not out, his first century since June 2023. Smith, meanwhile, achieved a historic milestone by reaching 10,000 Test runs, becoming only the fourth Australian to do so. His innings was punctuated by a spectacular six over the Galle Fort and culminated in a 35th Test century. Sri Lanka struggled to contain the Australian onslaught, dropping multiple catches, including two chances off Khawaja and one crucial opportunity to dismiss Smith. The hosts' review decisions also proved ineffective, missing opportunities to dismiss Head and Khawaja. Although a pitch invader briefly disrupted the proceedings with a lewd sign, Australia maintained their composure and continued their strong performance. The rain-affected end to the day's play left Australia firmly in control, setting the stage for an intriguing second day. With Josh Inglis set to make his Test debut at No.5, Australia has a potent lineup capable of extending their dominance. Sri Lanka, however, retains hope, needing to capitalize on any early opportunities and find a way to break the partnership between Smith and Khawaja
Cricket Test Match Australia Sri Lanka Galle Usman Khawaja Steve Smith Travis Head Day 1 Cricket News
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