Captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis led the Sri Lankan side to strong half-centuries on the second day of the second Test against Australia on Saturday.
The hosts reached 184 for two at stumps in Galle, where only a few spectators watched from the stands after the latest outbreak of political unrest in the country.
Karunaratne scored 86 runs in a marathon stand of 152 with Kusal before Mitchell Swepson broke with the captain’s wicket.
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Kusal was still playing on 84 with Angelo Mathews on six, Sri Lanka trailing Australia’s first innings total of 364 by 180 runs.
Debutant Sri Lankan spinner Prabhat Jayasuriya took six wickets to dismiss Australia in the first session, with Steve Smith remaining unbeaten on 145.
The hosts were dealt an early blow when Mitchell Starc’s pace bowled Pathum Nissenka tore the ball into the lane, where Cameron Green took a good catch.
The left-handed batting pair of Karunaratne and Kusal, inspired by the pace bowling of Starc and captain Pat Cummins, made their way through the afternoon.
Karunaratne completed his half-century with a boundary off Swepson, while Kusal’s stubborn resistance prompted Australia to turn around their bowlers.
– protest, unrest –
Premier off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who starred in the team’s opening win with nine wickets, went 21 overs without success.
Swepson eventually dismissed Karunaratne lbw off a ball that went straight into the batsman’s pads.
The tourists started the day at 298-5 with Smith, who scored his first Test century in 18 months, on the first day, resumed on 109.
Jayasuriya, who had picked up three wickets on the first day, set a trap for overnight batsman Alex Carey, who was caught at backward point for 28 in a reverse sweep.
The left-arm spinner soon dismissed Starc for one and became the seventh Sri Lankan bowler to take five wickets in an innings on Test debut.
Read also: Protesters reach Galle International Stadium, see proceedings from Dutch Forte
Jayasuriya was one of three Sri Lankan players, along with Mahesh Thekshana and Kamindu Mendis, who were awarded the first Test cap after the Covid outbreak that has isolated several members of the team.
There were barely any spectators in Galle for the second day’s play, with the host country embroiled in the public unrest created by its painful economic crisis.
The morning session saw hundreds of protesters march to the Galle Fort to demand the resignation of the Sri Lankan president – who fled his home on Saturday, before huge crowds of protesters stormed his residence.
Australia lead the two-match series 1-0 after an early win within three days during last week’s first Test.
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