SL v AUS 2nd Test, Day 1 Review: Match evenly poised

Day One of the second Test of the ongoing Sri Lanka v Australia series saw both teams have their claims at the same level. Moreover, the fact that 12 wickets also fell on the day showcases the fact that the wicket does not support just spin and pacers alike, but also that batsmen can find solace on a wicket that has little or no scoring ability. This was perfectly enumerated once again by Kusal Mendis who was once again the shining light for the team altogether.

The Day and the Test match began terribly for the home side when a fiery Mitchell Starc as he claimed a wicket with his very first delivery of the day. Although he strayed on the pads, Karunaratne’s urge to play the flick eventually found its way to Joe Burns at mid-wicket. Starc was simply unstoppable as he soon removed the solid looking Kaushal Silva for 5, with the Lankans reeling at 9/2 in the fifth over.

Enter Kusal Mendis. The 21-year old, who made a mark for himself in the first Test began to show his class, skill, and poise as he negotiated the bowling of Starc and Hazelwood. Moreover, the fact that he was facing a baptism of fire with Nathan Lyon and Jon Holland on the side as well made his innings all the more impressive. Mendis was joined by Kaushal Silva who played a very Sanath Jayasuriya-esque innings as the Aussies quickies simply had no answers to these supremely talented batsmen.

They added 112 runs for the third wicket before Kusal Perera was denied a half-century by a peach of a delivery from Nathan Lyon, one run adrift of what would go on to become a well-deserved half-century. Mendis however, continued on his way as the scoreboard continued to tick. While Mendis chose the conventional approach to dealing with the Aussie pacers, Angelo Mathews decided to play the aggressive game.

Mathews  announced his intent by smashing the very second delivery of his innings up and over, and well beyond the fence. The duo added a quick fire 67-run partnership as the Lankans seemed well destined to reach a massive score on a track upon which they were convinced the Australian batsmen would face problems. However, Kusal Mendis fell a few minutes before the lunch interval as Mitchell Starc once again provided the much-required breakthrough for the visitors. The Lankans were landed a further blow when they lost Dinesh Chandimal at the stroke of lunch to Josh Hazelwood, who had been largely subdued for the most part.

The post-lunch session saw Angelo Mathews and Dhanajaya de Silva take to the wicket. They added a few 30-odd runs before Angelo Mathews somehow found a feather outside edge to Peter Nevill behind the stumps. The fall of De Silva sparked a collapse as the Lankans were bowled out shortly after the tea interval for 281.

With barely a few overs remaining in the day, it seemed as though the Australian openers would remain unbeaten, especially with the Lankans not having a premier pacer. However, debutant Vishwa Fernando removed Joe Burns in what was only his second delivery of the innings and in Test cricket, thereby claiming his first ever Test match wicket.

Although the wicket of Burns added somewhat of a setback to the proceedings as far as the visitors were concerned, David Warner was seemingly unfazed. He clobbered the inexperienced Fernando to different parts of the Galle international stadium while Usman Khawaja remained unbeaten on 11 at the end of the day’s play. The end was marked by David Warner making a futile attempt to play one aggressive shot too many, thus losing his wicket to the final delivery of the day with the Aussies at 54/2.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka, 1st innings: 281 all out: (Mendis 86; Starc 5/44)

Australia, 1st innings: 54/2 (Warner 42; D Perera 1/14)