Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith both scored centuries in the second Test on Friday to give Australia Opening Day honors against a Covid-hit Sri Lanka. The Tourists reached 298 for five at stumps after electing to bat first to win the two-match series in Galle.
Smith was batting on 109 and wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey on 16 when left-arm spinner Prabhat Jayasuriya took three wickets. He thrashed fast bowler Kasun Rajita to complete his 28th Test century.
Also read: Exclusive | I want to be a left-handed batsman in my next life: Sourav Ganguly
This was the former captain’s first century during the third Test since January last year. India in Sydney.
Labuschagne, who scored 104 and Smith put on a 134-run stand for the third wicket, attacked the opposition bowlers when Australia lost their openers in the first session. He registered his seventh Test century and played an aggressive first away from home before Jayasuriya stumped him at the stroke of tea.
Jayasuriya took his spin-charge in the final session to bowl Travis Head for 12, and Cameron Green was dismissed lbw for four. 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.
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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=undefined
Labuschagne, who survived a missed morning stumping for 28 by Niroshan Dickwella, and Smith both handled the spinners with ease until their stand ended.
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.
Get all the latest updates cricket news, cricket pictures, cricket videos And cricket score Here