Test cricket LIVE: Sri Lanka put up a fight as Australia struggle for wickets; Stoinis retires from ODI cricket
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A handy partnership from this pair. 51 runs now to just slow things down.
You get the sense if Australia can get one wicket the next three will come in quick time.
Steve Smith is making a lot of bowling changes. He’s desperate for a breakthrough. Pitch isn’t playing major tricks.
The bookies have Australia as $1.82 favourites, with Sri Lanka at $2.15 to win. The draw is $17.
Australia 6-201
Put the finger on ice, Trav. Jeez he loved that one.
Head is still toiling away. He has figures of 1-25 from six overs.
Australia think Kusal Mendis has edged one behind but a review shows that Joel Wilson got it right. No bat on that one.
The visitors are in the grind here. Some very slow Test cricket at the moment. Australia’s openers might be breathing a little sigh of relief.
Sri Lanka 6-192
Australian fans on day one. Credit: Getty Images
What a view. Credit: Getty Images
Galle. Superb. Credit: Getty Images
Observant readers may have noticed the Sri Lankan team sheet features three players with the surname Mendis: Kamindu, Kusal and Ramesh. Are they Sri Lanka’s equivalent of the Chappells? You might be surprised to know that none of the trio are siblings, although they all have brothers who have played first-class cricket.
The 21-year-old comes into bowl the 66th over as Australia search for their seventh wicket in Galle.
A quick look through Connolly’s bowling figures.
First-class cricket: 96 balls. No wickets. 0-67
ODIs: 24 balls. No wickets. 0-31
T20 internationals: 30 balls. No wickets. 0-45.
Will he get a wicket in this innings? Kusal Mendis cracks Connolly for a boundary through the covers. There was also a four off the first ball. A good set of four balls (ones either side not so much).
Sri Lanka 6-178
Cooper Connolly of Australia poses with his new baggy green.Credit: Getty Images
Alex Carey claimed his 18th stumping in Test cricket when he removed Chandimal off Kuhnemann. To put that in context, Adam Gilchrist stumped 37 Test batsmen. Ian Healy took 29, Rod Marsh 12 and Brad Haddin 8.
Chandimal dances down the wicket and chips Lyon over mid-off. Lovely shot and great intent from Sri Lanka’s first drop. As of the end of the 60th over, he’s made 49.66 per cent of his team’s runs today.
BANG. Australia finally get their man. Alex Carey takes a sharp stumping off Kuhnemann to send Chandimal on his way for a wonderful knock of 74. The ball fizzes past the outside edge as Chandimal’s back foot slides out. It’s stuck on the white paint as Carey takes the bails.
Sri Lanka 6-150
Australia are hoping for early wickets after tea, which would give them a chance to put some runs on the board before stumps. Dinesh Chandimal (70 not out) is obviously the key wicket.
Australia have managed to take 4-57 to wrestle control of the second Test in Galle. Steve Smith’s men have stuck to their plans and executed beautifully. A key session in the context of the Test.
Nathan Lyon is the pick of the bowlers with 3-47 from 21 overs, while Travis Head also chipped in with a cheeky wicket to get the energy right up in the field.
Chandimal continues his superb record against Australia in a series when not many of his mates have lifted. He’d love to make triple figures.
Sri Lanka 5-144 after 58 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 70, Kusal Mendis 6).
Dinesh Chandimal of Sri Lanka bats during day one. Credit: Getty Images
Stand-in skipper Steve Smith has equalled Ricky Ponting’s Aussie record for most catches in Test cricket. When he snaffled Kamindu Mendis, it was Smith’s 196th grab. Once he inevitably passes “Punter”, he can set his sights on England’s Joe Root, who holds the world record with 207 Test catches.
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