SL v AUS, 1st Test Review: Sri Lanka scripts a historic victory

Sri Lanka scripted their second Test victory over Australia in the 33-year-history between the teams after the hosts clinched a remarkable 106 runs. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was yet again at the helm of the affair and picked up 5/54 while his young partner Lakshan Sandakan played perfect second fiddle to him as both left the Australian batting order in tatters and defend 268 runs.

The day began with Voges and Smith resuming on their overnight score. After surviving a few overs at the start, Herath delivered with the ball, striking three times in before lunch. Adam Voges could add only three runs to his overnight score before Herath got rid of him. Mitchell Marsh was his next victim. He later brought his team closer to the victory after he ended the fighting innings of Steven Smith

Smith, who had become a major obstacle in Lanka’s path, batted throughout the first session which was delayed by one hour. To make matters worse for the chasing side, chinaman Sandakan, who was getting an outrageous amount of turn like yesterday, struck with the wicket of Mitchell Starc in the final over before going for the break. The Australians went for lunch with only a slim hope of saving the match.

Only one and half-hour session was possible as rain delayed the start yet again. Angelo Mathews stuck to the simple plan of operating spinners from both the ends. Herath and Sandakan bowled in tandem. Initially, Voges and Smith looked bit comfortable but not Voges hit a full ball straight back to the left arm spinner. The decision looked tricky and third umpire was required to make the final decision who eventually confirmed that Australia had lost their fourth wicket.

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Smith and Mitchell Marsh kept some hopes alive with a 43 runs stand for the fifth wicket. The duo’s presence in the middle made spectators believe that the target was within sight. But, Herath intervened again, breaking the partnership when he trapped Marsh lbw for 25.

Sandakan played the perfect partner to Herath and kept adding pressure from the other end. The pressure increased again in the next over when Smith was given out caught-behind off his bowling The Aussie skipper misjudged the wrong-un but was sure that the ball hasn’t nicked. His review showed the same.

But, it took much time for Sri Lanka to rejoice again as Herath got rid of him in the very next over.

Smith who spent most of the day playing on the backfoot to negotiate turn was trapped LBW while defending the ball on the front foot. He yet again went for a review but this time, he had to leave when the third umpire confirmed he was out. The following over saw Starc getting departed for a duck.

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But, just when it looked that the Lankans were a couple of overs away from win Nevill and injured Steven O’Keefe drubbed the opposition with marathon 178 balls stay at the crease. The injured O’Keefe was doubtful to come out but showed up considering the importance of his wicket. The left arm spinner battled it the middle playing 98 balls.

Nevill also batted stubbornly and played out 115 balls while scoring just 9 runs. The troubled hamstring limited O’Keefe‘s mobility. His injury and the slender team situation meant that both dug out the overs without scoring any runs. Both resorted to a very defensive approach which resulted in a 137 ball dry stretch where not even a single was added to the scoreboard.

A highly exciting moment in the match came just two overs after the new ball was taken when Steven O’Keefe was given out LBW off Herath. The tired out Lankans went for a huge appeal and the umpire Richard Kettleborough at first instance it looked almost looked certain that O’Keefe was out. But, Aussie went for a review which showed an inside much to the joy of the Australian fans. The decision was quickly overturned.

However, respite for Sri Lanka finally came in the 88th over of the match from an unexpected bowler – part-timer Dhanajaya de Silva. De Silva broke the frustrating stand after he coaxed Nevill into edging one behind to the keeper with a straighter one. This was perhaps the biggest moment of the match.

Finally, Herath cleaned up the long-standing O’Keefe and sealed the historic win, their first in 17 years.

It was a remarkable comeback from the Sri Lankan in the match after getting bowled out for just 117 runs in the first innings. The game which was frequently affected by rains and bad light looked like a three-day affair initially after the Australians folded up the hosts in just 34.2 overs on day one.

However, the Lankan bowling attack led by legendary Rangana Herath helped their team rebound perfectly in the game by bowling out Australia for just 203 in the 2nd innings. Later, on day three, the game changed head over heels all of a sudden as Sri Lanka found a new hero in Kusal Mendis who struck a career-defining knock of 176 to make Sri Lankan favorites from being the underdogs.

Brief Scores:

1st Innings

Sri Lanka: 117 all out (Dhanajaya de Silva 24; Nathan Lyon 3/12)

Australia: 203 all out (Adam Voges 47; Rangana Herath 4/49)

2nd innings

Sri Lanka: 353 (Kusal Mendis 176; Mitchell Starc 4/84)

Australia: 161 all out (Steve Smith 55; Rangana Herath 5/54)

Sri Lanka won by 106 runs

Man of the match: Kusal Mendis