Australia's Usman Khawaja put up an impressive performance in his first test debut against Sri Lanka on Thursday, scoring a marathon 232 runs and forming century-plus partnerships with Steve Smith and Josh Inglis to lead his team to a colossal total of 654/6 before declaring their first innings. This marks Australia's highest test total in Asia and is sure to catch the attention of cricket fans worldwide. Don't miss out on this historic match and be sure to subscribe to catch all the action.
Australia Demolishes Sri Lanka with Record-Breaking Total
In a historic match at the Galle International Stadium, Australia's Usman Khawaja made a stunning test debut, scoring an impressive 232 runs and spearheading his team to a mammoth 654/6 before declaring their first innings.
Khawaja's Marathon Innings
Khawaja, who was recalled to the Australian side after a four-year absence, made the most of his opportunity. He batted for over 10 hours, facing 349 balls and hitting 24 fours and two sixes. His innings was the backbone of Australia's record-breaking total.
Century Partnerships
Khawaja shared crucial century partnerships with Steve Smith (145 runs) and Josh Inglis (106 runs). Smith, himself a batting maestro, provided a solid base, while Inglis played a counter-attacking innings to accelerate the scoring rate.
Historic Total
Australia's 654/6 is their highest test total in Asia, eclipsing the previous record of 643 runs scored against Bangladesh in 2017. It also ranks as the fourth-highest test score by any team in Asia.
Sri Lanka's Response
Sri Lanka, in response, struggled to keep up with Australia's impressive pace. At the time of writing, they have scored 133/2, still trailing by a massive 521 runs.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who is Usman Khawaja? Usman Khawaja is a Pakistani-born Australian cricketer who made his test debut for Australia in 2011. He has scored over 4,000 Test runs and has established himself as one of the most reliable batsmen in the world.
2. Why was Khawaja recalled to the Australian team? Khawaja was recalled due to injuries to several key players. He has been in excellent form in domestic cricket and has proven his ability to anchor Australia's batting lineup.
3. What are the implications of Australia's record-breaking total? Australia's massive total gives them a significant advantage in the match. They can now dictate terms and apply relentless pressure on Sri Lanka.
4. How significant is Khawaja's performance for Australia? Khawaja's performance is crucial for Australia's hopes of regaining the Ashes later this year. He has shown that he can perform at the highest level and provide stability to the team.
5. What is the history of Australia vs. Sri Lanka in test cricket? Australia has a dominant record against Sri Lanka in test cricket, winning 26 matches, losing 5, and drawing 2. The two teams last played a test series in 2019, which Australia won 2-0.
Ahead of Game 3 of the Lakers' first-round playoff series and their first road game of the postseason against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lakers coach JJ Redick shared his thoughts on the experience of playing in hostile environments. He described the thrill of silencing and even ruining the day of opposing fans who pay top dollar to watch their team, and the satisfaction that comes with winning on the road in the playoffs. Redick, known for his competitive and relentless nature, emphasized the unique allure of such moments outside of potentially winning a championship.
It was a historic night at Chepauk, as Sunrisers Hyderabad finally defeated Chennai Super Kings at their home ground after six failed attempts. CSK's fortress is now crumbling, with four home losses this season which matches their worst record in 2008 and 2012. SRH's win was fueled by a spectacular catch from Kusal Mendis, which turned the game in their favor and left CSK struggling for any hope of making it to the playoffs. Meanwhile, MS Dhoni's quest to create history in the CSK vs SRH match remained unfulfilled as SRH came out victorious.
Deepak Hooda, who was bought by CSK for INR 1.7 crore at the IPL 2024 mega auction, drew criticism from fans for his sluggish knock of 22 runs off 21 balls in their IPL 2025 match against SRH. This was following his poor performance in the previous three games for the team. Despite his overall record of 1494 runs in the IPL, Hooda's strike rate and consistency have been questioned by fans. Meanwhile, Harshal Patel's 4/28 helped SRH restrict CSK to 154, with debutants Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre contributing 42 and 30 runs, respectively.
In a thrilling IPL match, Sunrisers Hyderabad registered their first victory at the Chepauk by defeating Chennai Super Kings by five wickets. Harshal Patel's four-wicket haul and Ishan Kishan's fighting knock of 44 led the Sunrisers to victory. Captain Pat Cummins was relieved after the win and praised the team's clinical bowling performance. CSK could only manage 154 runs, thanks to brisk knocks from Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre, and SRH easily chased down the target, fixing their poor record against CSK.
Former AEW star returns to WWE after four years, making an impressive and impactful entrance during SmackDown. After being released by WWE in 2021, Black debuted in AEW as Malakai Black and gained popularity with the fan-favorite faction, House of Black. Now, Black is back in WWE and fans are excited to see what he can bring to the ring.
Indian Olympic javelin champion, Neeraj Chopra, defends his decision to invite Pakistani athlete, Arshad Nadeem, to compete in the upcoming NC Classic event in India. Despite receiving backlash and even threats towards himself and his family, Chopra stands by his invitation and expresses disappointment in the doubting of his loyalty and integrity to his country. He also voices his thoughts and prayers for the victims of a recent terrorist attack in Kashmir.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has faced criticism and hate for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru. Neeraj clarified that the invitation was sent before the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam and was solely based on Arshad's status as an Olympic gold medallist. He also stated that, in light of the tragedy, Arshad's participation in the event was no longer possible.
After a string of home defeats, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally emerged victorious at the Chinnaswamy Stadium against the Rajasthan Royals, thanks to their captain Virat Kohli and a strong bowling unit. Kohli's unbeaten 70 runs and intense celebrations on the field reflected the high-stakes nature of the match, which saw both teams giving it their all. With this win, RCB moves up to the third spot on the league table with six wins in nine games.
India's star javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, has spoken up about the criticism he received for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic event. Despite declining the invitation, Nadeem's presence at the event was deemed inappropriate following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam. Chopra clarified that the invitation was sent well before the attacks and expressed his love for his country and family amidst the backlash. He also addressed the false narratives being spread about him and his family and vowed to continue representing India with pride and integrity.
Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood's brilliant performance against Rajasthan Royals' batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal caught the attention of viewers during an IPL match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals. In an intense competition, Hazlewood was able to dismiss Jaiswal just shy of a half-century, leading to a heated exchange between the two players. Hazlewood's final figures of 4 for 33 played a critical role in RCB's narrow 11-run victory.