Australia's Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja continue their strong partnership, leading the team to a commanding first-innings score on Day 2 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's bowlers will need to utilize their spinners effectively in order to take wickets and mount a comeback against the dominant Australian batsmen. The playing XIs for both teams have been announced, with some notable players taking the field for the first time in the series. As the game reaches the 150 over mark, Starc knocks a single to long on, further adding to Australia's total.
Australia Dominates Sri Lanka in First Test, Smith and Khawaja Shine
Background
The first Test match of the two-match series between Australia and Sri Lanka began on June 29 at the Galle International Stadium. Australia, the world's number one Test team, entered the match as heavy favorites against the ninth-ranked Sri Lanka.
Match Summary
On Day 2 of the match, Australia batted first and posted a commanding 321 runs for the loss of just four wickets. Steve Smith, the former Australian captain, scored an unbeaten 134, while Usman Khawaja contributed with 71 runs.
Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled to contain the Australian batsmen, with only Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya taking wickets. Australia's lead spinner, Nathan Lyon, was particularly effective, taking 2 wickets for just 38 runs.
Key Moments
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who is leading the Australian batting attack? Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja are the top run-scorers for Australia in the first innings, with centuries and half-centuries respectively.
2. How is Sri Lanka's bowling performing? Sri Lanka's bowlers have struggled to take wickets, with Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya being the only ones to register success.
3. What is the history of the Australia-Sri Lanka rivalry? Australia has dominated the rivalry, winning 27 matches to Sri Lanka's 10. The last time Sri Lanka defeated Australia in a Test match was in 2016.
4. Who are the key players to watch in the series? In addition to Smith and Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green are key players for Australia. For Sri Lanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, and Wanindu Hasaranga are the ones to watch.
5. How can Sri Lanka make a comeback in the match? Sri Lanka needs to find ways to take wickets and restrict Australia's run-scoring. Their spinners will need to be more effective, and their batsmen will need to put together some substantial partnerships.
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