The action of the second and final Test between Sri Lanka (SL) and Australia (AUS) continued on Day 2, at the Galle International Stadium, in Galle. The island nation had finished Day 1 on 229/9, and it just took almost eight overs for Australia to bowl them out on Day 2. As they began their batting, the visitors lost two quick wickets in the form of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. Both of them were back in the hut scoring 21 and four runs, respectively.Â
Veterans Usman Khawaja and skipper Steve Smith paired up to do the damage control before their 54-run stand for the third wicket was broken as Khawaja walked back scoring 36 runs. Post that, it was a hard toil for Sri Lanka bowlers as they were shown no mercy by Smith and the wicketkeeper-batter, Alex Carey. The duo kept seeing off the good deliveries and punished the loose balls with utmost authority.
The hosts relied heavily on their spinners Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis and Nishan Peiris. Dhananjaya de Silva made the trio bowl a combined 65 overs. The heavy blows were taken by Jayasuriya as he bowled 25 bowlers and conceded 107 runs with just one wicket of Labuschagne. Peiris got the other two batters, Head and Khawaja and turned ineffective in the remaining spells.
Speaking of Smith and Carey, the duo put up a spectacular stand of 239 runs for the fourth wicket. Both the batters are currently unbeaten on 120 and 139 runs, respectively, at the end of Day 2. With this, Australia have edged past the first innings score of Sri Lanka with a lead of 73 runs. Smith brought up his 36th century in Tests, and his 17th as a captain. Besides, this was also his 7th Test century in Asia. On the other hand, Carey got to his second Test ton.
Also Check:Â Smith overtakes Ponting as Australia’s leading Test run-scorer in Asia
Here’s how the fans reacted to Day 2 of SL vs AUS second Test:Â
Alex carry might not have staggering stats or number but this guy always rise up in difficult stage whether wtc final crucial knock or 98* in nz . Massively underappreciated!#SLvsAUS
— Sabin kc (@sabinkc705) February 7, 2025
Fab 4 Test centuries at 2021 start:
1. Virat Kohli – 27.
2. Steven Smith – 26.
3. Kane Williamson – 24.
4. Joe Root – 17.
Fab 4 Test centuries now:
1. Joe Root – 36*
2. Smith – 36*.
3. Williamson – 33.
4. Kohli – 30.#Cricket #SLvsAUS pic.twitter.com/4es9IZH28s
— Rohit Baliyan (@rohit_balyan) February 7, 2025
SL losing this by an innings as well for sure.
Very poor by them#SLvsAUS
— Vishal Chandnani (@c91557280) February 7, 2025
Steve Smith reaches his 36th Test century, equaling Joe Root and Rahul Dravid. It’s his fourth century in the last five matches and his seventh in Asia—the most by any Australian. A true modern-day great in red-ball cricket!#SLvsAus#SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/hRFfPwL3AC
— Srinath Roychowdhury (@SrinathRoychow1) February 7, 2025
That’s the difference between Australia and England :
On a tough turning pitch, agnst quality spinners, Aus gets reduced to 94/3 n then what happens? They not only withstood d pressure but also fought back with proper technique n temperament to be 304*/3
(1/2)#SLvsAUS
— Ambika (@apmahapatra) February 7, 2025
Australia has been magnificent.
But this by SL is the most insipid fielding and bowling display I’ve seen since the first test match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle in 2025.#SLvsAUS
— Paul Dennett (@PaulDennett_) February 7, 2025
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