Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc with the second new ball, dismissing Peiris and Mendis early. Kusal Mendis, however, stood strong, showcasing his batting prowess against the Aussie attack. The match hangs in the balance as Sri Lanka fights to stave off defeat.
Mitchell Starc wasted little time getting stuck into Sri Lanka 's tail after Australia opted to take the second new ball . Australia had already retained the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy by winning the first Test, but needed a victory or draw in this match to win its first series in Sri Lanka since 2011. Starc found the out-swinger to Nishan Peiris, but it was a bit too wide and it missed the outside edge.
Jayasuriya was nailed to the crease, perhaps waiting for the yorker or the bouncer, but it was a length ball across him. He hung the bat out at it and the edge went into the safe hands of Steve Smith in the slips. Mitchell Starc bowled across the right-handed Ramesh Mendis, who had a think about pushing at it, then rethought and tried to withdraw the bat but couldn't do so in time. The edge was found and the catch was taken by Alex Carey. Kusal Mendis was making it look easy as he bunted a short wide ball away to deep point for a single. That in-swing was gone. The ball was going gun-barrel straight. I think Starc was going mostly wobble seam or cross seam. The harder ball was offering some more turn and bounce to Kuhnemann. He bowled a masterful spell of reverse swing a couple of hours ago. Can he pull something off with some conventional swing as he so often does? HUGE in-swing straight away. Right on the money from Starc. There was half a shot for LBW but a big inside edge saved Kusal Mendis. A big wide one was chased by Ramesh but he missed out. Mitchell Starc was limbering up in the outfield. He was drifting it a long way outside off, but he just couldn't find that purchase off the surface right now and Ramesh was happily pushing forward to defend. That's a maiden. The batters appear to be waiting to see what Australia is going to do with this new ball. Ramesh Mendis was pushing outside off. One ball spun past the edge and there was an encouraging sound, but it was just bat on the pitch. The last ball of the over was again worked for a single to square leg and the second new ball was available. Half a shout as Ramesh Mendis shoulders arms, the ball spins back in and hits him. The Aussies enquired about LBW, but it wasn't spinning. Drop and run from Kusal to cover, and Ramesh makes it through for a tight single as Nathan McSweeney's under-arm throw comes in on the dive. Kusal Mendis swivels his whole body to take a ball off the stumps to deep square leg for a single. A lot of drift, but not much spin for Lyon right now. He's challenging the outside edge of these right-handers, but not turning the ball back into them. Big Beau Webster fields a ball on the leg side. Will we see him get a go with the second new ball. Just one run off the over. Kuhnemann is keeping it tight, but he's not getting as many deliveries to grip, turn and bounce as he was in his earlier spells. He's technically replacing Mitchell Starc, but it's really just a change of ends for the off-spinner. A bit of drift away and Ramesh chases it with a lusty slash, but misses out. Ramesh really wants to play with the spin, and he takes a ball from outside off to long-on for a single to end the over. He goes wide of the crease to change the angle, but Kusal drives the ball down the ground for a single. Good batting. Another quick single for Ramesh after he defends into the off side. He's done well to continually get off strike against Starc. That also brings up the 200 mark for Sri Lanka. He's got both mid on and mid off up saving one to Ramesh, trying to tempt him into a big shot down the ground. Frustration continues for Australia as Head catches the outside edge but it goes fine past Steve Smith to the third man boundary. Let's see whether he continues to get reverse swing as he did in his spell to end the second session. Ramesh calls for some extra padding here, I think it'll get put to great use because Starc will be NASTY during this spell. As expected, the first ball of the over is full and swings late, resulting in a leading edge for Ramesh into the off side and he gets off strike. Starc goes for the tempter which is full and wide, it swings away and misses Kusal's attempted drive. This time there's an edge from Kusal but it doesn't carry to Steve Smith, who takes it on the bounce and cops a nasty blow to his fingers. Travis Head to continue. The second new ball not too far away now, it's due in 10 overs' time. That'll be another interesting wrinkle for Sri Lanka to negotiate. Excellent batting from Kusal! Gets the reverse sweep out and gets it to the third man boundary. That's how you manipulate the field. Head gets the slip in and Kusal goes for the conventional sweep on one knee and picks up a single to deep square leg. Head continues to tempt Ramesh by bowling it slow and wide outside off stump, trying to induce the false stroke. Ramesh ends the over with a classy flick through the leg side down to long on for a single. The partnership is now 40
Cricket Sri Lanka Australia Mitchell Starc Kusal Mendis Ramesh Mendis Warne-Muralidaran Trophy Test Match Second New Ball
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