A dominant Australia wrapped up the primary Check towards Sri Lanka with a session and a day to spare, handing the hosts their greatest defeat in Check cricket on Saturday in Galle.
Sri Lanka have been skittled out for 247 of their second innings, succumbing to an innings-and-242-run drubbing. Their earlier heaviest Check defeat was an innings-and-239-run loss to India in Nagpur in 2017.
Spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon ran riot, sharing 16 wickets between them as they dismantled Sri Lanka’s fragile batting lineup in each innings.
Kuhnemann, who had already snared a five-wicket haul within the first innings, completed with figures of 9 for 149 – his greatest in Check cricket.
How Sri Lanka fell to a heavy residence defeat
Australia’s Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis
Sri Lanka’s resistance was feeble at greatest. They misplaced eight wickets in a session earlier than lunch and one other seven between lunch and tea, as Australia stamped their authority with sensible bowling and distinctive fielding.
Dinesh Chandimal was the lone warrior within the first innings, scoring 72, whereas Jeffrey Vandersay, batting at quantity 9, introduced up a counterattacking half-century within the second innings. His blistering 53 off 47 balls, laced with seven fours and two sixes, was a stark reminder that the pitch had no demons – software was all that was required.
Sri Lanka had hoped Vandersay would delay the inevitable and assist them keep away from their worst defeat, however with simply 4 runs wanted to surpass that undesirable file, he perished recklessly.
Sri Lanka’s batting was a catastrophe – missing partnerships, self-discipline, and sensible shot choice.
With simply two half-centuries in all the sport, Sri Lanka’s fragile batting unit is certain to face severe questions and modifications are anticipated forward of the second Check, which begins in Galle on Thursday.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva had spoken of reclaiming the Warne-Murali Trophy, which Sri Lanka had misplaced in 2019. However with Australia taking an unassailable 1-0 lead, the trophy stays firmly within the guests’ grasp.
Watch each match from the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy stay on Sky Sports activities between February 19 and March 9 or stream with NOW.
