SL vs AUS 2nd Test, Day 1 Review: Australia on top despite efforts from Chandimal, Kusal Mendis

The second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia started, and it was the Aussies who dominated the opening day as the host batters failed to deliver yet again. The Aussie bowlers were all over the batters on the opening day itself at the Galle International Stadium, where they are looking to make the series a clean sweep. 

The hosts won the toss and chose to bat in a quest to draw the series. There might have been a few partnerships formed in the middle for the Sri Lankan side, but it was not enough to put the bowlers under pressure. After the dismissal of opener Dimuth Karunaratne the hosts started losing wickets at regular intervals and the middle order failed to make much of a contribution with Angelo Matthews, skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kamindu Mendis getting out cheaply once again. 

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The only batters who made some valuable contributions during the match were Dinesh Chandimal (74 off 163 deliveries) and Kusal Mendis (59* off 107). Despite solid contributions in the middle, it was not enough to keep the Sri Lankans out of trouble. The only sigh of relief for Sri Lanka is that they have managed to play out the day without getting bowled out and ended with a score of 229 with a wicket remaining at Stumps.

Lyon and Starc lead with experience 

Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, the most experienced and accomplished bowlers in the playing squad, lived up to their reputation as well. It was Nathan Lyon who started off the downfall for the Lankan Lions, ending the day with figures of 3/78 getting the big scalps of Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Angelo Mathews. 

Though Galle is meant to be a wicket for the spinners, that did not stop Mitchell Starc from being among the wickets as well and break some big partnerships. The 35-year-old pacer also took three wickets, which included the wicket of skipper de Silva. The comeback man Ramesh Mendis who was forming a crucial partnership with Kusal, also fell prey to Starc.