Marnus Labuschagne said on Friday that he and fellow century-scorer Steve Smith were due for a big score as the pair gave Australia Opening Day honors against a Covid-hit Sri Lanka in the second Test on Friday. The Tourists reached 298 for five at stumps after electing to bat first to win the two-match series in Galle.
“We both felt as if we had conceded some runs in the last few Tests. So when we got the opportunity it was good to capitalize on it,” Labuschagne told reporters.
“I was very disappointed since last week. Maybe just walking away from my process instead of dismissal,” he said
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On Steve Smith, Marnus said: “And obviously Smudge got run out (in the last Test). The boys said this morning that when he fell to the ground, he was in Smudge (Smith) headspace and he looked locked from inside.
Smith was batting on 109 and wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey on 16 when left-arm spinner Prabhat Jayasuriya took three wickets.
But it was Labuschagne, who scored 104, and Smith’s third wicket of 134 runs between them, that remained the highlight of the day’s play.
Smith, who was run out for six in the opener, lashed out at pacer Kasun Rajitha and extended his bat towards the dressing room to complete his 28th Test century.
This was the former captain’s first century during the third Test since January last year. India in Sydney. Labuschagne, who scored 13 runs as an opener, registered his seventh Test century and his first away from home in an aggressive innings before Jayasuriya was stumped at the stroke of tea.
Labuschagne said, “It was nice to have that one from behind, whose last six tons had come on home pitches.
“Obviously this is the first away from home and it was great to contribute and put the team in the position we did today.”
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– ‘Be smart as a bowler’ –
Jayasuriya, 30, took his spin charge in the final session and got Travis Head out for 12 and Cameron Green for four runs lbw.
But Smith and left-hander Carey opened the innings from there to deny the hosts any more wickets.
Carey, who scored 45 in Australia’s opening win last week, once again made his intentions clear with a reverse sweep off Jayasuriya.
Labuschagne believes his spinners Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson will get “more turn” on this wicket.
Earlier, Sri Lanka with their lone pacer Kasun Rajita dismissed David Warner for five in the fifth over of the day.
Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis clean bowled Usman Khawaja for 37 before lunch, but Labuschagne held on and came back with a boundary.
Labuschagne, who survived a missed morning stumping for 28 by Niroshan Dickwella, and Smith both handled the spinners with ease until their stand ended.
“They have a lot of experience. They don’t let a bowler freeze. They try to break a bowler’s rhythm,” Jayasuriya said.
That’s what he tried to do and you need to be smart as a bowler.
The hosts handed over the Test cap to spinners Mahesh Thekshana and Jayasuriya as well as all-rounder Kamindu Mendis. coronavirus Outbreak in his team.
Ramesh, who took four wickets in the previous match, and Jayasuriya bowled most of the 90 overs, while Thikshana and Rajita, a mystery spinner, were rested.
Sri Lanka’s Covid-19 count jumped to five on the eve of the final Test, but Angelo Mathews returned to the squad after being forced out by an infection midway through the first match.
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