Dimuth Karunaratne, the skipper of Sri Lanka says that it is very disappointing as the play got over in three days. Mentions that the Australian batters did really well and as a batting unit they need to play better and put pressure on bowlers. Further says that with the young bowling attack they need to do better and do the job. Mentions that it is not easy to bat against Nathan Lyon and they made some bad decisions in the game.:
Pat Cummins, the victorious skipper is in for a chat. He starts by saying it was an amazing win. Mentions, he could not believe the game eneded so quickly. Adds the bravery and the proactiveness shown by the batters has been outstanding over this match. Says, Green has been a whacker, and he has found it in his first knock. He proved to be the difference in the end.:
Cameron Green wins the Player of the Match award for his incredible effort with the blade. Green says there are a few experienced guys in the camp and that helped him a lot. He aimed to be proactive and thought of playing some shots regularly to keep the pressure off him.:
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Earlier in the match, after winning the toss and electing to bat first! Sri Lanka were off to a decent start but once the spinners were introduced, the wickets started to fall. Nathan Lyon was in action and showed his class along with Swepson. They didn't allow the score to flow quickly and bundled out Sri Lanka for 212. Lyon ended with a five-fer while his companion finished with three wickets. In reply, it was Usman Khawaja first and then Cameron Green in the lower order along with Alex Carey, they played out what proved to be a match-winning innings and got a handy lead of more than 100. Australia were aware of the spin-friendly pitch and introduced Lyon again quickly after Starc's spell in the start which didn't work out. The magician was at work again with his crime partner and with Travis Head joining them. Australia ripped apart the Lankan lineup. In the end, Australia won without breaking much sweat. :
So, Day 3 is called the moving day but it turns out to be the result day as well. Australia were batting at the start of the day and inside one session, we have seen a whole innings wipe away, thanks to some exception bowling spell from the Aussie spinners. Quality over quantity! This was proven in this match. Sri Lanka had more spinners but it was the experience and quality of Australia that has helped them take the lead. Lyon, Swepson and Head stuck to their plans throughout the process to bundle Sri Lanka below-par score and then, Australia needed just one over to get over the victory line. :
Well, the outcome was inevitable. A comprehensive win for Australia. A clinical display from them and they take the lead in this two-match Test series. Smiles everywhere in the Aussie camp as Warner hits the winning runs and fist pumps in the air. Cummins has a big smile on his face. What a win this is for the visitors!:
0.4: Ramesh Mendis to David Warner, SIX! BANG! Here are the winning runs. David Warner finishes things off in style. It is tossed up, wide outside off. David Warner dances down the track, gets underneath it and smokes it over the long on fence to get his side over the victory line. AUSTRALIA WIN THE GAME BY 10 WICKETS!
0.3: Ramesh Mendis to David Warner, FOUR! Fuller delivery on off, David Warner goes down on the one knee and reverse sweeps it towards the third man region for a boundary. They need one now.
0.2: Ramesh Mendis to David Warner, Fuller one again, David Warner looks to slog sweep it but misses.
0.1: Ramesh Mendis to David Warner, Starts with a fuller one outside off, David Warner looks to cut it but gets a bottom edge as the ball bounces towards the off side.
22.5: Travis Head to Lasith Embuldeniya, OUT! LBW! That is it for the Sri Lankan innings. This one was full and on middle and leg, Embuldeniya tries to flick it but gets beaten and gets hit on his pads. The Australians appeal for the LBW but the finger stayed down. Pat Cummins goes for the review and it works in their favour, as the Ball Tracking shows three reds to end this Sri Lankan innings. Travis Head steals the spotlight here with his 4-fer in just 2.5 overs.
22.4: Travis Head to Lasith Embuldeniya, Full and on the middle, Embuldeniya blocks it off.
22.3: Travis Head to Asitha Fernando, On a length and on middle, Fernando smears it to mid-wicket for a single.
22.2: Travis Head to Asitha Fernando, FOUR! Asitha Fernando manages to get some lead on board now with this boundary. Tossed up on the off, Fernando just smashes it over the bowler for a boundary at long on. Incredible hit but comes a little too late.
22.1: Travis Head to Jeffrey Vandersay, OUT! BOWLED! What a beauty of a delivery. This one lands on the rough outside off, turns sharply into the right hander. Vandersay tries to play a drive at it but the ball goes between his bat and pads and hits top of middle stump.
21.6: Nathan Lyon to Lasith Embuldeniya, Nathan Lyon bowls it on middle, Lasith Embuldeniya blocks it solidly.
21.5: Nathan Lyon to Lasith Embuldeniya, This one lands on off and turns sharply, Lasith Embuldeniya looks to defend it but misses.
21.4: Nathan Lyon to Lasith Embuldeniya, Fuller one on middle, Lasith Embuldeniya defends it soolidly off his front foot.
21.3: Nathan Lyon to Lasith Embuldeniya, On off, Lasith Embuldeniya looks to play at it but misses.
21.2: Nathan Lyon to Niroshan Dickwella, OUT! CAUGHT! Tossed up on middle, Niroshan Dickwella looks to reverse sweep it but gets a top edge and the ball carries towards short cover where Labuschagne takes a diving catch with both hands to his left. Australia are looking to bag Sri Lanka before Lunch.
21.1: Nathan Lyon to Jeffrey Vandersay, Tossed up on leg, Jeffrey Vandersay sweeps it but gets a top edge. The ball was in the air for some time but falls in no man's land at short fine leg. They rotate the strike.
20.6: Travis Head to Niroshan Dickwella, Fuller, on middle and off. Niroshan Dickwella tries to sweep it away but misses. Head appeals but the umpire is unmoved. It clearly hits his gloves, the replays later confirm.
20.5: Travis Head to Jeffrey Vandersay, Full length and on the off, Vandersay crunches it past the cover fielder. They take three runs.
20.4: Travis Head to Jeffrey Vandersay, On a length and on off, Vandersay drives it straight to mid off.
20.3: Travis Head to Jeffrey Vandersay, Full and on the middle, Vandersay tries to play the reverse sweep but finds the man at backward point.
20.2: Travis Head to Jeffrey Vandersay, BYES! Misses everyone. This land outside off, and turns in sharply. Jeffrey Vandersay fails to get any blade on it. Carey fails to gather it and the batters sneak in a couple.
20.1: Travis Head to Niroshan Dickwella, On a length outside off, turning away, Dickwell cuts it past point for a single.
70.5: Asitha Fernando to Mitchell Swepson, OUT! BOWLED! Australia are bundled out! Sri Lanka have done well as they have not allowed the tail to wag much! Asitha Fernando again gets a good amount of inward swing, this is full and around middle. Mitchell Swepson is too late to get his bat down and the ball disturbs the stumps behind. Australia lead by 109 runs.
70.4: Asitha Fernando to Nathan Lyon, Full toss on the pads, flicked to fine leg for a single.
70.3: Asitha Fernando to Mitchell Swepson, A mix up but Swepson makes his ground! A fuller ball, slanting around middle and leg. Swepson fails to flick it away and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls to covers and there is a yes or no for a quick single. Swepson is rushing to the bowler's end and he makes his ground as Fernando misses his shy.
70.2: Asitha Fernando to Pat Cummins, OUT! TIMBER! A beauty of a delivery from Asitha Fernando! Pat Cummins was rather expecting a short ball but this is a yorker, around off and swinging in. Pat Cummins hangs back as he looks to block it out but misses and the ball shatters the stumps. Good start by Sri Lanka.
70.1: Asitha Fernando to Nathan Lyon, Fuller ball, tailing on the pads. Lyon whips it to deep square leg for a single.
69.6: Ramesh Mendis to Pat Cummins, Flatter ball, around middle and leg. Cummins stays back and blocks it out.
69.5: Ramesh Mendis to Nathan Lyon, A single now! Fuller ball on middle. Lyon sweeps it hard and through square leg for a single.
69.4: Ramesh Mendis to Nathan Lyon, Tossed up, slower through the air, on middle. Lyon sweeps it to square leg. No run there.
69.3: Ramesh Mendis to Nathan Lyon, Slightly short and outside off. Lyon looks to reverse-sweep it but misses.
69.2: Ramesh Mendis to Nathan Lyon, FOUR! Lyon and Australia are off the mark on Day 3! Full again, around off. Lyon this time reverse-sweeps it and hits it fine to third man for a boundary. Good shot that!
69.1: Ramesh Mendis to Nathan Lyon, Tosses it up, full and angling across, outside off. Lyon tries to sweep it but misses.
68.6: Jeffrey Vandersay to Pat Cummins, SIX! Gigantic! Floated one, full and around off, Pat Cummins goes down on one knee and launches it over wide long on for a maximum. 16 from the over. Lead crosses 100!
68.5: Jeffrey Vandersay to Pat Cummins, Shorter, a googly, around middle. Pat Cummins blocks it off the back foot.
68.4: Jeffrey Vandersay to Pat Cummins, FOUR! Pat Cummins continues to attack Jeffrey Vandersay! Another full ball, around middle and off. Pat Cummins sweeps this towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
68.3: Jeffrey Vandersay to Pat Cummins, Spinning away from the batter, outside off, Pat leaves it alone.
68.2: Jeffrey Vandersay to Pat Cummins, Fullish and around off, Cummins pushes it to covers from the middle of his bat. Niroshan Dickwella appeals thinking that it came off the pads. Funny!
68.1: Jeffrey Vandersay to Pat Cummins, SIX! The Aussie skipper is on the attack. Flatter and fuller, around middle, Cummins clears his front leg and hammers it over mid-wicket.
58.6: Mitchell Swepson to Jeffrey Vandersay, OUT! Vandersay holes out! Floated delivery, landing full around leg and spinning away, Jeffrey Vandersay sits down on one knee and tries to slog it across the line. It comes from the top half of his blade and it's a simple catch for Mitchell Starc at deep mid-wicket. Sri Lanka are all out for 212.
58.5: Mitchell Swepson to Jeffrey Vandersay, Skidding down, from around leg, Jeffrey Vandersay tries to flick but misses.
58.4: Mitchell Swepson to Jeffrey Vandersay, Quicker and shorter on off, Vandersay punches from the back foot to covers.
58.3: Mitchell Swepson to Jeffrey Vandersay, Again it's short and around off, turning away, Jeffrey Vandersay steps back and then tries to reach out for his square cut but misses.
58.2: Mitchell Swepson to Jeffrey Vandersay, FOUR! Useful runs for Sri Lanka! Short delivery, around middle, Jeffrey Vandersay stands back and reverse-pulls it past the diving point fielder for a boundary.
58.1: Mitchell Swepson to Jeffrey Vandersay, Fuller and around off, driven back to the bowler.
57.6: Nathan Lyon to Asitha Fernando, Aerial but it loops over leg gully. Turn and bounce again, from around off, Asitha Fernando tries to defend but gets an inside edge. It deflects off his pads and balloons behind Warner. They get two runs.
57.5: Nathan Lyon to Lasith Embuldeniya, OUT! CAUGHT! The Flying Khawaja! What a screamer from him and Nathan Lyon has a fifer. Full and floated, around middle, Lasith Embuldeniya advances down the track and flicks it aerially towards mid-wicket. Usman Khawaja is manning that region, he shuffles across to his left a bit and then flies full stretch to catch it with both hands. Superbly done and now Australia are only one wicket away from closing the Sri Lankan innings.
57.4: Nathan Lyon to Lasith Embuldeniya, Flatter and shorter, around off, it's defended off the back foot.
57.3: Nathan Lyon to Jeffrey Vandersay, Plays the reverse sweep again, this time wide of point and they cross for a single.
57.2: Nathan Lyon to Jeffrey Vandersay, Edged but short! Flighted and around off, turning in, Jeffrey Vandersay tries to defend but it takes the inner edge and falls wide of Marnus Labuschagne at short leg. He stretches his left hand out but it drops away.
57.1: Nathan Lyon to Jeffrey Vandersay, Fuller and on off, Jeffrey Vandersay also has the confidence to play the reverse sweep, connects decently but finds backward point.
56.6: Pat Cummins to Lasith Embuldeniya, Slightly short in length and on off, angling away, Lasith Embuldeniya allows it through to the keeper.
56.5: Pat Cummins to Jeffrey Vandersay, Fuller in length, on middle at 134 kph, Jeffrey Vandersay uses the angle and works it behind square leg for a single.
56.4: Pat Cummins to Jeffrey Vandersay, Targets the off stump with a length ball, Jeffrey Vandersay once again is solid in his defense off the back foot.
56.3: Pat Cummins to Jeffrey Vandersay, Full and outside off, angling in, Vandersay pushes it off the front foot to covers.
56.2: Pat Cummins to Jeffrey Vandersay, Fraction short and on off, Jeffrey Vandersay gets squared up on the back foot as he defends it to the off side.
56.1: Pat Cummins to Jeffrey Vandersay, Angles in a length ball around off, Jeffrey Vandersay defends it from the back foot.
Right then! Australia go 1-0 up in this 2-match Test series. Sri Lanka have a couple of days off and they need to assess what happened and come back with a better plan. The second match will start on Friday, 8th July at 10 am IST (4.30 am GMT) Do join us for the build up as well. For cricketing lovers, there is a huge Test match between England and India coming up (the 5th Test match). You can join us there at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT) and join us early for the coverage as well. But from here, it is goodbye!: