Proponents for the introduction of a two-division construction for Take a look at cricket have been given further ammunition with the way in which this two-match sequence between Sri Lanka and Australia has been just about a no contest.
The Aussies are on the verge of finishing a 2-0 sequence whitewash after dominating day three of the second check at Galle with the Sri Lankans clinging to a slender lead which can absolutely not be sufficient to stop Steve Smith’s facet from amassing a second straight emphatic victory.
Sri Lanka will resume day 4 on 8-211, a lead of simply 54, after three late wickets, together with two items of Beau Webster brilliance adopted by Matt Kuhnemann’s fourth wicket within the last over the day
There’s nonetheless the tiniest glimmer of hope for the house facet to tug off an unlikely win with Kusal Mendis on 48 not out however we’re speaking a miracle of Ian Botham’s 1981 Headingley proportions for the Aussies to let this one slip from their grasp.
The truth that the Sri Lankans have been, for probably the most half, outclassed on their dwelling turf ought to be trigger for concern for the ICC.
The Sri Lankans will not be a horrible group by worldwide cricket requirements however they’ve been made to look second fee by an Australian facet lacking its common captain.
After being within the hunt for the World Take a look at Championship last proper up till the previous few months of the two-year cycle, they will end sixth on the ladder for the nine-team league.
However the easy reality is they aren’t in the identical ballpark of the all-conquering Australians whose subsequent project is to knock over South Africa at Lord’s in June to defend the World Take a look at Championship crown they gained in 2023 by thrashing India.
Pathum Nissanka is bowled by Matthew Kuhnemann. (Photograph by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Photos)
Sri Lanka’s bowlers loved a uncommon session on high on day three by clattering by the Australian center and decrease order with the Aussies all out for 414 for a lead of 157 after they misplaced 7-64 after including 20 from their in a single day complete of 3-330.
Smith was the primary to go when he was deceived by Prabath Jayasuriya with an distinctive left-arm orthodox supply which kissed the sting of his bat on its manner by to Kusal Mendis’ gloves.
It’s laborious to beat Smith’s outdoors edge at the very best of occasions not to mention when he has 131 towards his title.
However after claiming his scalp, Jayasuriya bowled Josh Inglis for a second-ball duck when the primary Take a look at centurion went again when he ought to have gone ahead.
Alex Carey went on to turn into the primary Australian wicketkeeper to make 150 in Asia earlier than he was bowled by Jayasuriya making an attempt one sweep shot too many.
Debutant Cooper Connolly was a bundle of nerves in his first Take a look at innings.
He obtained off the mark with a top-edged sweep to the boundary which simply evaded the deep sq. leg fielder however he was not ready so as to add any extra runs to his tally, falling to a wild swipe as he superior down the wicket which went no additional than Ramesh Mendis at level.
Connolly was ineffective once more with the ball with Smith seeming to not belief him a lot, giving him two overs within the second innings after simply three within the first dig.
He has undoubtedly been picked with an eye fixed on the longer term however his bowling is just not at a regular that threatens at first-class stage as but, not to mention within the Take a look at area, so the choice to choose him forward of Todd Murphy stays baffling with Lyon and Kuhnemann once more having to shoulder effectively over half off the Australian assault’s workload.
Webster regarded assured on his technique to making 31 earlier than he was bowled by the gate by Ramesh and the tail didn’t wag as Jayasuriya collected a five-wicket haul albeit after conceding 151 runs from his 38 overs.
Sri Lanka had an enormous battle simply to make Australia bat once more and their possibilities of staging what could be a outstanding comeback for victory copped a triple blow shortly as the highest order collapsed for the fourth straight innings.
Pathum Nissanka was on his manner for eight when Matt Kuhnemann slid a fast ball by to crash his fortress, not the fort at Galle, which has been talked about a few times on commentary … ICYMI.
Dimuth Karunaratne’s last Take a look at innings ended on 14 when he edged Kuhnemann to Carey and he burned a evaluate on his manner out.
Howling Joel Wilson had added to his lowlights reel when he adjudged Webster LBW within the Australian innings to a ball which was clearly lacking leg stump.
However he obtained this one proper.
Hurrah.
The truth that followers, gamers and doubtlessly even Wilson himself are shocked when he will get a video referral right underlines why the ICC have to take away him from the elite worldwide panel faster than you may say “Joel, I’m gonna need to get you to reverse your resolution”.
When Sri Lanka’s solely in-form batter, Dinesh Chandimal, was caught at mid-off by Webster off Nathan Lyon (3-80) for 12, the hosts have been in dire straits at 3-39.
“That was a extremely poor shot,” stated former Australian opener Phil Jaques on ABC Radio commentary.
Angelo Mathews determined to hit his manner out of hassle with some cavalier pictures from the veteran.
His promising 42-run resistance with Kamindu Mendis ended when his associate additionally holed out to mid-off, mistiming Lyon to Usman Khawaja.
From there the one query was whether or not the Sri Lankans would make Australia bat once more as they headed to the tea break nonetheless trailing by 59 runs with solely six wickets in hand.
Smith snared what former teammate Simon Katich described as “an absolute screamer” at slip to present Kuhnemann his third wicket and fifteenth for the sequence.
Opposing captain Dhananjaya de Silva’s disastrous sequence lurched even decrease when he nicked a faster one from the Queensland-born Tasmanian leftie on 23 and Smith dived ahead with one hand simply above the turf to say his 198th catch for Australia.
Mathews threw his wicket away on 76 with a slog sweep which was snaffled by Webster diving swiftly to his left within the deep off Lyon.
Smith then launched Webster’s off-spinners to Take a look at cricket and he struck in his first over with a bat-pad catch to Travis Head for Ramesh to be on his manner for a duck and almost obtained two in two balls however a diving return catch probability simply evaded his lengthy levers.
Kuhnemann eliminated Prabath Jayasuriva when Smith pouched his 199th profession catch and it could be becoming if the stand-in skipper notched his double-century on Sunday when the Aussies wrap up the second innings and all however actually, a profitable mission to Sri Lanka.
