Skipper dhananjaya

Sri Lanka: Australia’s bowlers had to work hard on a challenging first day of the second Test in Galle as Sri Lanka fought back after a top-order collapse. After being reduced to 127/5, the hosts showed resilience, with Kusal Mendis (59 not out) and Dinesh Chandimal (74) leading the fightback.

Despite a brilliant spell from Nathan Lyon (3-78) and late strikes from Mitchell Starc (3-37), Sri Lanka managed to reach 229/9 at stumps. The pitch, expected to deteriorate further, saw occasional sharp turn but it was Australia’s consistency and skill that brought the wickets.

With one more Sri Lankan wicket to take, Australia will be aiming to wrap things up quickly on day two and take charge of the match. However, with the surface showing early signs of spin, Sri Lanka’s bowlers could make life difficult for the visitors when their turn comes.