11 Jul 2022 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shehan Daniel reporting from Galle
Prabath Jayasuriya and Dinesh Chandimal scripted an incrediblewin for Sri Lanka to draw the two-Test series against Australia in Galle today, exorcising the horrors of an embarrassing defeat in the first Test last week.
Dimuth Karunaratne’s men proved they were the masters of their own domainonce again, as spinners Jayasuriya, Maheesh Theekshana and Ramesh Mendis ran through the Australian batting line-up in just 41 overs, nine of those wickets falling in 26 overs after the tea break, for a final margin of victory of an innings and 39 runs.
The result was incredible for the fact that when the day started, Sri Lanka were just 67 runs ahead of Australia, facing the prospect of having to bat last on a pitch that is challenging to chase a target on– the outcome made all the more impressivegiven that their opponents are ranked number one in the ICC World Test Championship and the hosts were hit with a Covid-19 outbreak which forced three changes ahead of the Test.
Jayasuriya was not even in the squad at the start of the series and so may not have played if Praveen Jayawickrama had not been one of the players who contracted Covid-19.But just like the player whose place he had potentially taken, the 30-year-old made his debut count, taking 6 for 59, the best figures by a Sri Lankan on debut.
He bettered the previous best by Jayawickrama, who took 6 for 92 against Bangladesh last year, and Jayasuriya’s match bag of 12 for 177 was also the best for a Sri Lankan in his first Test – the fourth best figures for any international cricketer on debut.
Jayasuriya needed just seven deliveries to get his first breakthrough, deceiving Usman Khawaja with loop and spin to send a catch to Oshada Fernando at short leg, and four more deliveries to dismiss the dangerous Steven Smith, leg before wicket for 0, Australia wasting a review in the process.
Marnus Labuschagne showed some intent scoring two boundaries against the left-arm spinner, and along with Cameron Green appeared to be steering the Australians to safety.
Jayasuriya quelled that threat at the end of his 11th over, when Labuschagne misjudged the length on an attempted sweep and was trapped lbw, ending a 38-run partnership.
His next over was another double-wicket over, Niroshan Dickwella making amends for missing three stumpings in this Test by catching Green out of his crease, and Kusal Mendis taking a spectacular catch at slip, off the bat of Mitchell Starc.
Pat Cummins scored a boundary and a six over Jayasuriya’s next two overs, that collectively went for 18 runs, but the spinner completed his haul and the win four overs later.
Theekshana, who didn’t have as memorable a debut, removed Cummins and Nathan Lyon is his fifth over, with Ramesh Mendis accounting for the wicket of Travis Head, having earlier broken the opening wicket partnership of 49 runs between Khawaja and David Warner.
Just as crucial to the victory was the outstanding double century from Chandimal helping Sri Lanka establish a 190-run first innings lead, the first by a Sri Lankan against Australia and a career best for the former captain.
Chandimal batted like a man possessed, the match situation with the hosts eight wickets downgiving him the license to go for quick runs, scoring 53 of the 55 runs the hosts gathered after the lunch break, in just 45 balls.
His first shot of aggression came at the start of the second over after lunch, straight driving Mitchell Starc for a boundary.
Starc removed Jayasuriya later in that over, and with only Kasun Rajitha left for company, Chandimal scored 12 off the next, pulling Cummins for four behind square and then cutting him over backward point for a six to take him past his previous best Test score of 164.
It was more of the same when Starc returned for another over, Chandimal adding a boundary and a six to his tally, before hammering a boundary and two consecutive sixes when the fast bowler continued – the first of those sixes sailing out of the grounds and heading towards the Galle Fort – taking him to his first career-double century, as he charged towards the dressing room and then falling on his knees in celebration.
That put Starc out of the attack, to be replaced by Mitchell Swepson, with the leg-spinner ending Sri Lanka’s first innings on 554, their highest ever total against Australia, trapping Kasun Rajitha leg before wicket.
It was a remarkable change in pace, with Sri Lanka having to grind out 68 runs in a 24-over first session - partnerships of 68 and 21 with Ramesh Mendis and Theekshana, helping to extend the innings beyond lunch.
Australia 1st innings 364 (M. Labuschagne 104, S. Smith 145 not out; Jayasuriya 6-118)
Australia 2nd innings
D. Warner lbw b R. Mendis 24
U. Khawaja c sub (Fernando) b Jayasuriya 29
M. Labuschagne lbw b Jayasuriya 32
S. Smith lbw b Jayasuriya 0
T. Head b R. Mendis 5
C. Green stDickwella b Jayasuriya 23
A. Carey not out 16
M. Starc c KusalMendis b Jayasuriya 0
P. Cummins lbw b Theekshana 16
N. Lyon lbw b Theekshana 5
M. Swepson b Jayasuriya 0
Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 431-6, D. Chandimal 118, R. Mendis 7)
P. Nissanka c Green b Starc 6
D. Karunaratne lbw b Swepson 86
KusalMendislbw b Lyon 85
A. Mathews c Labuschagne b Starc 52
D. Chandimal not out 206
KaminduMendis b Swepson 61
N. Dickwella c Cummins b Lyon 5
R. Mendislbw b Starc 29
M. Theekshana b Cummins 10
P. Jayasuriya b Starc 0
K. Rajitha lbw b Swepson 0
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