A record 152 runs for the second port between captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis helped Sri Lanka fight in the second round against Australia as the hosts finished the second day 2-184 on Saturday, ahead of 180 races.
After a baptismal collapse and a 10-point loss in the first test, Sri Lanka needed to show determination on a track known for dominating turns.
Karunaratne and Mendis laid the groundwork for a competitive total after first-team player Pathum Nissanka (six) left cheap after being spectacularly caught by Cameron Green in the Mitchell Starc ravine.
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Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka bat during the second day. (Getty)
The sweep shot had proved to be Sri Lanka’s fall in the first half and Saturday’s sweeps were few as both batters relied on their strengths.
Karunaratne drove the spinners well and was often on the front foot during his 86 hit which produced 10 limits. He reached his 30th test fifty by stepping out of the leg spinner Mitchell Swepson and crushing him to the middle harbor boundary.
The partnership was broken when the left tried to play Swepson and took the lead. The 152-run standings are a record for Sri Lanka for the second gate against Australia, enhancing the 143-run collaboration between Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu in 2007 in Hobart.
Debut 5 for the Sri Lankan spinner
Mendis was more comfortable against the beat, pulling and mosquetting with confidence as he reached his 14th half-century test. He was undefeated in 84 after facing 152 deliveries and hitting nine fours. Angelo Mathews was not out of six. He had to retire from the first test after testing positive for COVID-19.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne had hit hundreds in Australia’s first innings to help them all 364. The overnight pair of Smith and Alex Carey added 77 runs for the sixth portal, but there wasn’t much resistance from the rest of the hitters.
Australia bounced back from 5-298 and Sri Lankan spinners did well in claiming the last five wickets for 66 runs, while left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed six for 118. He became sixth. Sri Lanka to take five or more wickets in a debut entry. .
Labuschagne increases the tons
Jayasuriya was a late substitute in Sri Lanka after being forced to join several players who tested positive for COVID-19.
Smith finished undefeated with 145 after batting for more than six hours in which he faced 272 deliveries and hit 16 fours. He had posted his 28th hundredth test on day one and was rarely worried about spinners.
Australia have retained the Warne-Murali trophy after their big win in the first test. If they finish the series 2-0, the Australians will further consolidate their position as the world’s No. 1 team.
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