Kuhnemann, Lyon star as Australia thrash Sri Lanka in Galle

Australia secured a dominant victory in the first Test cricket match against Sri Lanka, winning by an innings and 242 runs on Saturday in Galle.

With rain limiting play on day three, the visitors wasted no time wrapping up Sri Lanka’s first innings when play resumed, taking the final five wickets for just 29 runs.

Matthew Kuhnemann claimed his second five-wicket haul, leaving Sri Lanka trailing by 489 runs.

Australia enforced the follow-on, and Sri Lanka’s second innings started poorly with openers Oshada Fernando (6) and Dimuth Karunaratne (0) falling cheaply.

The middle order put up more resistance, with Dinesh Chandimal (31), Angelo Mathews (41), Kamindu Mendis (32), and Kusal Mendis (34) helping the home side surpass their first-innings total.

However, none of them went on to make a big score, leaving Sri Lanka vulnerable.

Jeffrey Vandersay fought hard with a well-played 53 off 47 balls, but it was too little, too late.

Nathan Lyon and Kuhnemann led the attack, each taking four wickets as Sri Lanka was bowled out for 247.

“I thought we started the Test beautifully, Usman [Khawaja] and Travis [Head] up top really set the tone,”

Australian captain Steve Smith said. “Usman’s innings was outstanding, to get his first double hundred, the way he went about it and the shots he played.

The pressure he put on the bowlers was outstanding, and throughout that innings, we had plenty of good partnerships. And to get 650 allowed us to bowl twice.”

Smith also praised the team’s all-around effort, highlighting their ability to press the game forward.

“Thought [Mitchell] Starc did a tremendous job with the new ball, and the spinners did a great job as well.

Thought we batted extremely well, and gave us a chance to press the game and get to a position that we wanted to.

I thought the bowlers bowled really well in tandem, the beauty of having three frontline spinners is you can just rotate and keep guys as fresh as possible.”

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva admitted his side missed crucial chances and must improve for the next Test.

“Chasing 600+ runs is not easy,” he said.

“The wicket was not that hard, but the ball was turning. But the batters have to put their hands up and put the opposition under pressure.

Of course, losing hurts always.

We had our chances, reviews and catches dropped. We made chances but never took them.

We have to put our bodies on the line and play well. They are a champion side, in the WTC final, so we have to up our game for the next Test.”

The two teams will meet again on Thursday in Galle for the final Test of the series, where Australia is heavily favored to complete a whitewash with the best online sportsbooks.

Bovada has the visitors at -133.33 to win, while Sri Lanka pays +160 to pull off an upset and level the series with the top online casinos.

Sports news