Sri Lanka v Australia 1st Test – 5 Memorable moments

Sri Lanka made a remarkable comeback into the Test and recorded their only second Test win ever over Australia after they beat the visitors by 106 run margin. The last time they had beaten Australia was way back in 1999. Australia’s late resistance was not enough to save the match after they were bowled out for 161 while chasing the 268 runs target. Rangana Herath was the star on day five as he picked his 24th five-wicket haul to help his team win the game  as dark clouds lurked around Pallekele Stadium towards the end of the day.

1.Nathan Lyon completes 200 wickets:

Nathan Lyon became just the fifth spinner and the 16th Australian overall to take 200 Test wickets. He achieved the milestone in the last session of the day three when he removed Dhananjaya de Silva for 36 to complete his wicket number 200.

The off-spinner has now joined the elite club of spinner which only had leg-spinners previously. Lyon now sits in the company of Shane Warne (708 Test wickets), Richie Benaud (248), Clarrie Grimmett (216) and Stuart MacGill (208). He came into the match with 195 wickets and inched closer to the mark by taking three wickets on day one. Angelo Mathews became his 199th scalp on day three.

2. Breakthrough innings from Kusal Mendis:

21-year-old Kusal Mendis proved that there is batting class left in the Islands after the end of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. In a bowler-dominated contest, the young man played a wonderful 176 runs run knock against the world best Test team. The Sri Lankans had conceded an 86 runs first innings lead and were reeling on six for two when Mendis walked out to bat at the Pallekele on day three.

The game was tilted heavily in the favor of the visitors had changed its course by the end of the day as the right-hander, playing only his seventh test match, returned unbeaten on 169 after a 243-ball masterclass, giving Sri Lanka 196 run lead. Unfortunately, he could had only 7 runs in the following day before getting dismissed.

3. The lethal young – old spin pair:

The young-old pair of Rangana Herath and debutant Lakshan Sandakan did a wonderful work in the Test. Together the duo snapped 16 wickets to script a remarkable win for Sri Lanka. Both partnered together to keep their team in the game by bundling out Australia for just 203 in the 2nd innings. Both Herath and Sandakan snapped four wickets each.

Both continued weaving their magic in the last innings of the match. The match looked equally poised after Mendis’ wonderful knock. Herath fastened the procedure for the hosts and brought them on the brink of the win by snaring three wickets before the lunch. Later on, he took two more to complete his 24th five wicket haul. Sandakan also added three wickets to his tally as both finished with match figures of 9/103 and 7/107 respectively.

4. The epic Peter Nevill & Steven O’Keefe:

All hopes were dashed after skipper Steven Smith fell leg before to Rangana Herath. Starc and Lyon who followed Smith in the middle were wrapped off by Sandakan in no time to bring the Aussies eight-wicket down. However, the game did not end quickly as anticipate as their departure made way for an epic 9th wicket stand between wicket-keeper batsmen Peter Nevill and injured Steven O’Keefe.

The pair drubbed the opposition with marathon 178 balls stay at the crease. The injured O’Keefe was initially doubtful to come out and bat but showed up. The left arm spinner battled it the middle playing 98 balls. Nevill, at the other end, also batted stubbornly and played out 115 balls while scoring just 9 runs. Both dug out the overs without scoring any runs and frustrated the hosts to a large extent. Their defensive approach was so dull and grueling for the Lankans it resulted in a 137 ball dry stretch where not even a single was added to the scoreboard.

5. The biggest moment of the match:

The low –scoring match had many wonderful moments. But, the most exciting moment in the match came on the day five just two overs after the new ball was taken in the post-tea session 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. The Sri Lankans had to live with it and carry on. Eventually, they found the break though after part – timer Dhanajay de Silva took the wicket of Nevill to bring delight.