Australia are well on top after a day’s play of the first Test match against Sri Lanka with a chance to bat the game out of reach. Join The Roar from 2:15pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage from 2:15pm (AEST).
Although rain may have cut the first day short, Australia made a huge impact throughout the opening two sessions of the series, putting themselves in prime position to build a big first innings lead today.
A bowling blitzkrieg from the Baggy Greens saw them shoot out of the gates, with the Sri Lankan batting line-up crumbling in the first session.
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Five wickets before lunch, plus two more in the first over after the break left the home side on the back foot and limping towards triple figures.
Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc got things going strongly, before spinners Steve O’Keefe and Nathan Lyon finished things off with style.
Sri Lanka would only make 117 with Dhananjaya de Silva top scoring with 24, while no one in the top three got out of single figures.
Despite losing openers David Warner and Joe Burns early, Usman Khawaja and skipper Steve Smith steadied the ship for the visitors to leave them trailing by just 51 runs when rain forced an early finish to play in Kandy.
From an Australian point of view, it’s important these two bat out at least the first hour to keep the Lankans from burning through the batting order much like the Australians did, on a pitch that suggests it could happen.
A total of 117 is going to be a tough ask to defend for any side in the world and the Sri Lankans may find themselves chasing big during their second innings. But as with anything in Test cricket, you can never really know. Plenty will be revealed about how this match is going to go today.
Join The Roar for live coverage of Day 2 from 2:15pm (AEST).
Billy
Guest
Give me a shout out!
jarijari
Guest
Hey, Johnno. Quite right about Kandy this time of year, where the monsoon drops its bundle virtually every afternoon. But the pitch is so suited to chuckers and twirlers that the five half-days should be ample time for a result. Would be good to be there. You could sign off on the game about 1-2pm, spend a coupe of hours in the bar with knowledgable locals and get back to town before dark. All the best mate.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Sri Lanka bowled really well today. Herath did what he always does, hitting the spot time after time, and Pradeep was really impressive with his seamers, constantly at the batsmen and offering them few bad balls. And the Chinaman Sandakan looks like a real find - all of the Aussies struggled to pick him and he adds fantastic variety to the attack. At 25yo he has a great future. There are decent signs for the future of the SL bowling attack but unfortunately the same can't be said for their batting stocks.
rock
Guest
So they all have poor techniques but they all made starts. Yep sounds like the typical India is the best team in the world by a margin fan.
Johnno
Guest
Kandy gets so much rains, it's silly playing test matches thee.
Connor Bennett
Editor
The rest of the day has been called off That's all she wrote for day 2. For the second consecutive day, the tea session has been written off. Sri Lanka will head into tomorrow morning 80 runs behind with one wicket down.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Not a lot of movement inside the stadium as the rain continues to fall.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Still some light drizzle in Kandy, but that's enough to keep play from starting
Craig Swanson
Guest
Mitch Marsh proved something today. That he can use soft hands in defense. The penny has finally dropped. CA and his coaches will be very pleased to see that. I thought the rebuild by he and Vogesy was the vital stand the innings needed to get a solid lead. Wasw brought undone by a terrific wrong'n by their chinaman bowler who was impressive
Connor Bennett
Editor
Smith's was an absolute shocker!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
When the broadcasting team get bored and run out of ideas....
Scott Bennett
Guest
Looks like there is less spectators at this cricket match then there is at a roosters eels game
Craig Swanson
Guest
SC. Smith should use his bat to whack himself over the head after that brain fade. Not giving enough respect to the Lankan's premier spinner. Needs more patience before he decides to impose himself.
Scott Bennett
Guest
Australian batsmen still seem susceptible to playing inappropriate shots
Connor Bennett
Editor
The weather is improving folks as the rain begins to lighten up
Connor Bennett
Editor
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Got the wicket but had to go to tea because of rain. The Lankans will be annoyed because they don't get to get the next batsman out there; the Aussies because they don't get to get the next batsman out.
Connor Bennett
Editor
EARLY TEA The covers are on as the rain gets heavier and an early tea has been called nearly instantly. Disappointing to lose that wicket just as the rain came down. Australia hold onto an 80 run lead after one day and two sessions. SL 1/6
Connor Bennett
Editor
3rd Over . W 2.1 - Starc coming around the wicket to Perera, bringing it back into the stumps. The batsman just bunts it down to mid on for a dot 2.2 - Swinging back in... He's hit him in front. AND HE'S GONE!! OUT!! K Perera lbw Starc 4 (5) An absolute peach of a delivery from Starc, Perera didn't even think about the review he was absolutely plum. Starc sent it in full on leg stump, but he gets that late swing back towards middle and beats the bat, hitting Perera on the toes right at the base of middle. Karunaratne is the new man to the crease... but it's RAINING, and the covers are being brought on.
Connor Bennett
Editor
2nd Over 3 . . . . . 1.1 - Josh Hazlewood shares the new ball. Tailing in a long way into middle and leg!! A lot of swing there but Perera gets the bat down on it late, squeezing it through the onside for three. 1.3 - Back of a length, Silva is on the back foot and watches it through tentatively. 1.4 - NEARLY DRAGGED ON!!! Silva plays the hook on the short ball, but somehow brings it off the face of the bat and brings it back down next to the stumps. SL 0/6