Stand-in captain Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Alex Carey have smacked classy hundreds in Galle to put Australia one step closer towards a series whitewash over Sri Lanka in the Warne–Muralitharan Trophy.
The tourists are 3-330 at stumps on day two of the second Test, leading by 73 runs, after Smith (120) and Carey (139) combined for an unbeaten 239-run partnership for the fourth wicket to dominate Sri Lanka in sapping conditions on Friday.
Having added the reverse sweep to his repertoire, the helmetless Smith tamed Sri Lanka’s tweakers on a spin-friendly deck to continue his stunning red-ball renaissance — after going nearly 18 months without a Test century, the right-hander has clobbered four hundreds in five matches, also setting the Australian record for most Test tons in Asia.
Meanwhile, Carey passed triple figures in the Test arena for the first time since 2022, slapping 13 boundaries and two sixes in a career-best performance with the willow. The left-hander becomes just the second Australian wicketkeeper to crack a Test century in Asia, alongside the legendary Adam Gilchrist.
Elsewhere, Sri Lanka is staring down the barrel of its first Test series loss against Australia on home soil since 2011 following an uninspiring effort with the ball.
Earlier, openers Travis Head and Usman Khawaja got Australia’s innings off to a flying start before spinner Nishan Peiris generated some extra turn off the surface, with the slogging South Australian edging to slip for 21.
The following over, Galle wizard Prabath Jayasuriya trapped the struggling Marnus Labuschagne on the pads for 4, with Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva successfully overturning the on-field decision. The hosts called for another review against rival captain Smith the next ball, but Hawkeye suggested the delivery was sliding down leg.
Following a 54-run partnership for the third wicket, Khawaja departed early in the afternoon session for 36 after Peiris produced a flatter delivery that struck him on the kneeroll, with the Queenslander wasting a review before trudging off the ground. Smith was also given out LBW by umpire Joel Wilson on 23, but the decision was overturned after ball-tracking showed impact was outside off stump.
Carey, promoted to No. 5 ahead of sore teammate Josh Inglis, steadied the ship alongside Smith to give Australia the ascendancy at tea. The New South Welshman looked in sublime touch, expertly picking gaps in the field with reverse sweeps and cover drives while slapping Jayasuriya down the ground for a stylish six.
To stem the flow of runs, Jayasuriya resorted to targeting Smith’s legs from around the wicket, but the right-hander was happy to fend them away with his front pad. Elsewhere, a superb delivery from Peiris spun past Smith’s bat and narrowly evaded middle stump, another fortuitous moment for the Australian skipper.
Smith reached triple figures in 191 deliveries during the evening session, passing the milestone with a full-blooded pull shot through mid-wicket. While celebrating the ton, he removed his baggy green and calmly nodded towards the dugout.
Carey followed suit shortly after, achieving the feat in just 118 deliveries with a pair of sweep shots against Jayasuriya. The South Australian picked up the tempo after notching his second Test hundred, racing past Smith’s tally with a thumping six down the ground against Jayasuriya.
Earlier in the morning session, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 257 in 97.4 overs after wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis frustrated the Australians with some annoying runs.
Resuming at 9-229 on Friday morning, Mendis and tailender Lahiru Kumara added a further 28 runs to delay Australia’s first innings, with spinners Nathan Lyon and Matthew Kuhnemann struggling to unearth a breakthrough.
Kuhnemann eventually wrapped up the innings when Kumara edged towards second slip, where all-rounder Beau Webster snaffled a low chance, leaving Mendis stranded on 85 not out.
The second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia will resume on Saturday at 3.30pm AEDT.
Leave a comment