Australia are on the verge of completing a historic whitewash in Sri Lanka as they left the hosts reeling at 211/8 leading by 54 runs in their second innings on Saturday, February 8 at Galle International Stadium, Galle. Matthew Kuhnemann (4/52) and Nathan Lyon (3/80) spun a web around Sri Lanka’s batters on Day 3 after Steve Smith (131) and Alex Carey (156) helped their team take a massive 157-run lead in the first innings.
Sri Lanka were once again rocked early as Kuhnemann thrashed Pathum Nissanka’s stumps for 8. His opening partner Dimuth Karunaratne also failed to score big in his final Test innings, giving Kuhnemann his second strike as he edged him straight into Alex Carey’s gloves. As a result, Karunaratne signed off on a marvellous Test career and was applauded by Australian players while making his way back to the pavilion.
Meanwhile, wickets continued to tumble for Sri Lanka with Nathan Lyon also getting into the act and dismissing Dinesh Chandimal (12), who holed out to mid-off to leave his team on 39/3. Angelo Mathews, who walked in at number four, batted through a tricky period and kept the scoreboard moving.
However, there was hardly any support for the experienced campaigner as Kamindu Mendis (14) also threw his wicket away trying to go inside out against Nathan Lyon and got caught at mid-off. Sri Lanka went into tea on 98/4 with Mathews on 38 along with captain Dhananjaya de Silva (8) at the crease.
The duo extended their partnership to 47 post tea before Kuhnemann once again struck at a crucial time for Australia, making De Silva edge one to Steve Smith at slip. Sri Lanka lost half their side and were still trailing by 29 runs when Kusal Mendis joined Mathews at the crease.
Their 70-run partnership helped their side whittle away the deficit and take a 41-run lead to calm the nerves in the dressing room. However, the joy was short-lived as Mathews ended up sweeping Nathan Lyon straight down the throat of Beau Webster at backward square leg. He looked distraught while walking back to the pavilion after a brilliant knock of 76 (149) leaving his team on 198/6.
Australia further piled on the misery on the hosts, dismissing Ramesh Mendis (0) and Prabath Jayasuriya (6) just before stumps to further tighten their grip on the game. Kusal Mendis (48* off 50) remains the only hope for Sri Lanka on Day 4, and he will have the company of Nishan Peiris and Lahiru Kumara as they aim to extend their 54-run lead.
Alex Carey breaks Adam Gilchrist’s record
Earlier in the day, Australia resumed their first innings on 330/3 leading by 73 runs with a well-set Steve Smith and Alex Carey at the crease unbeaten on their respective hundreds. The duo extended their partnership to 259 runs before Sri Lanka finally managed to get the breakthrough as Kusal Mendis dismissed Smith on 131.
