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Australia’s three specialist bowlers had to sweat while holding Sri Lanka to 9-229, as debutant Cooper Connolly bowled just three overs on day one of his Test career.
A masterful spell by Nathan Lyon (3-78) and some reverse swing from Mitchell Starc (3-37) had threatened to corner the Sri Lankans on a dry but equable Galle surface that played better on day one than the tourists had expected.
But Dinesh Chandimal dug in to prevent a rout reminiscent of the first Test, where neither innings made it to 55 overs. Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann have already bowled 60 between them.
After Kuhnemann (2-53) twirled past Chandimal for an excellent Alex Carey stumping early in the final session, the tourists were grateful for Starc and the second new ball to snuff out a lower-order stand by Kusal Mendis (59 not out) and Ramesh Mendis.
Even so, the balance of the Australian side will have to be weighed up against how they fare with the bat on a pitch that is already much drier and potentially more treacherous than the one on which the visitors piled up 654 last week. Josh Inglis was off the field for a chunk of the day with back soreness.
READ THE FULL RECAP FROM DANIEL BRETTIG HERE
Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of Prabath Jayasuriya.Credit: Getty Images
Australia’s three specialist bowlers had to sweat while holding Sri Lanka to 9-229, as debutant Cooper Connolly bowled just three overs on day one of his Test career.
A masterful spell by Nathan Lyon (3-78) and some reverse swing from Mitchell Starc (3-37) had threatened to corner the Sri Lankans on a dry but equable Galle surface that played better on day one than the tourists had expected.
But Dinesh Chandimal dug in to prevent a rout reminiscent of the first Test, where neither innings made it to 55 overs. Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann have already bowled 60 between them.
After Kuhnemann (2-53) twirled past Chandimal for an excellent Alex Carey stumping early in the final session, the tourists were grateful for Starc and the second new ball to snuff out a lower-order stand by Kusal Mendis (59 not out) and Ramesh Mendis.
Even so, the balance of the Australian side will have to be weighed up against how they fare with the bat on a pitch that is already much drier and potentially more treacherous than the one on which the visitors piled up 654 last week. Josh Inglis was off the field for a chunk of the day with back soreness.
READ THE FULL RECAP FROM DANIEL BRETTIG HERE
Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of Prabath Jayasuriya.Credit: Getty Images
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