Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd Test Match Summary

The trophy is lifted by the Aussies and congratulations to Australia, for retaining the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy. This is the 7th edition of that trophy with Australia winning it for the 5th time, losing it only once in 2016, with the one in 2022 being shared. They end their Test cycle perfectly, eager to take their next battle on against South Africa in the World Test Championship final in June. But in terms of immediate future, the teams shift focus to the ODI series, added as a last-minute request, with a view to prepare for the Champions Trophy. It will be a 2-match series, both day games and it is a real surprise, given that white-ball games these days are usually played under the lights. Both matches will be at the R.Premadasa Stadium, in Colombo, with the first ODI to be played on Wednesday, 12th February, 2025. Expect a stiffer challenge from the Lankans in that format against a depleted Aussie side, resting a few players. That's all from here but you can browse other matchcentres to catch all the action from the one-off Test between Zimabwe and Ireland, and the 2nd ODI between India and England. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Now, time for a chat with STEVEN SMITH. Says that Australia played really well from the onset. Adds that the preparations were good before the series and everyone stood up to their capabilities and did as much as they could. Mentions that Mitchell Starc bowled really well, setting the tempo with the new ball and credits the spinners, Lyon and Kuhnemann, for executing their plans very well and using the conditions very well. Adds that they had a training camp in Dubai before the series predominantly for the batters to adapt to spinning conditions here and everyone had their individual plans, which they executed well. Mentions that they have such a good group and he loves to captain and is happy with the win. And he forgets that Sri Lanka collapsed in the second session on Day 1 here! Has that been so long? Ahhh... we can understand. Everyone wants to enjoy the moments after a win and wrap things up quickly. Roshan Abeysinghe quickly shifts the question to the partnership of Smith with Carey and the skipper agrees that it was an important one where Carey played really well and helped their team to put pressure back on Sri Lanka. Hopes to replicate these kind of performances in the future.

Sri Lanka's captain, Dhananjaya de Silva comes up for a chat now. Is obviously disappointed to lose a series, that too at home and admits that his team did not capitalize on opportunities. He accepts that losing the home series 2-0 is very disappointing. Mentions that the conditions were favourable for them as a home side and is disappointed to still finish on the losing side. Says they had opportunities here and there but the Aussies showed why they are in the finale of the WTC. Feels that the Lankans got the best conditions to bat in this game but put only 260 (257 to be precise) on the board, honestly saying that it was not enough to win a Test match. Admits that the second session on Day 1 was the changing moment of the game where they lost four wickets. On being asked as the reason for the success of the Aussie spinners, Dhananjaya feels that the Aussie bowlers were a lot more consistent in landing the ball in the right areas as compared to those of Sri Lanka.

Australia's skipper, STEVEN SMITH, HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE SERIES. We shall have the interview later.

Australia's ALEX CAREY HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his wonderful 156 with the bat, to go with 3 catches and a stumping. Congratulates Dimuth Karunaratne first up for a wonderful career and wishes him a great future. On his own knock, puts it down to the platform laid down by the top order and then praises Steven Smith for showing his class again. Cheekily admits that he got lucky to bat at number 5, due to the injury to Inglis. Details that he was only looking to manipulate the field with his sweeps and reverse sweeps and informs that the ball misbehaved only when it was pitched on a good length. Praises Australia's bowlers for creating chances and details that in the subcontinent, as a keeper, one does expect plenty of chances to come his or her way.

DIMUTH KARUNARATNE, having played his last Test, is called up for a chat. Manages to brave a smile despite the loss and is understandably sad for calling it quits from the game. One can sense tears swelling in his eyes, as his voice is breaking but because of the glasses worn by him, we cannot see those. Happens to everyone, with emotions taking over. A big loss for Sri Lanka, but time to move forward. Karunaratne says that he is emotional as he had a long career of about 13 years. Adds that his family is around and now he will go and help them in any way he can as he will get ample time. Talks about memorable moments of his career as he says that all the things have been memorable so far. Mentions that he had a goal of playing Test matches for Sri Lanka and scoring 10,000 Test runs. Feels that he was lucky to play cricket for Sri Lanka and thanks everyone who supported him from coaches, to his friends and to his family. Talks about the next thing he will do after retiring as he will go to Australia to learn coaching and then will look forward to be doing whatever he can for Sri Lanka. He thanks every single fan who has watched him and thanks his team players as he will miss those moments when he used to play with them. In the end, he gets a bit emotional and talks in Sinhalese to thank his fans and family.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

MITCHELL STARC of Australia is up for a chat. He says that playing away from home is one of the great challenges. Is pleased to get the job done this time around in Sri Lanka. Says that they have had a fair bit of success in the past three to four years and also highlights that they have got a good balanced squad. Appreciates his teammates for playing good cricket and also highlights that they have found ways to win the matches. Appreciates the spinners and says they have been just brilliant on this turning track. Says there's a lot to look forward to and is excited to bowl with the new Dukes ball in English conditions in the WTC Finale. Is eager to play against South Africa, having not played against them for a while.

We talked about missed opportunities. Let's go back to Day 1 of the series. Australia were going hard after the bowling and as a result, presented lot of opportunities. As many as 4-5 chances or half chances came on the opening day itself and the Lankans could not take any. That allowed the Aussies to get off the hook. And perhaps, gave them confidence to bat well in these conditions. The second Test saw a disciplined batting effort, with not too many loose strokes. Sadly for Sri Lanka, their batting improved from the first game, but the bowling did not. The captaincy was a bit defensive, with Dhananjaya de Silva concentrating on stopping the boundaries and allowing easy singles, even to new batters. That allowed partnerships to brew and eventually, the scoreboard to keep rolling.

Another game of missed opportunities for the Lankans. First, they got the advantage of winning the toss, but then blew it away by collapsing from 93/1. Then, they had Australia at 91/3 but allowed the game to drift from there. And finally, on Day 3, they were 198/5 with half an hour left in the day's play and Australia getting nervous and irritated. But the hosts collapsed once again and literally handed the game on a platter. In terms of positives, Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis stood out for the hosts while Mathews revived his form. In the bowling front, Prabath Jayasuriya got the wickets but at too high a price. Amidst the dark clouds though, Nishan Peiris came out as bright light, bowling much better in this Test.

Coming to the match, yet another game where Australia strut their dominance yet again, with both bat and ball. After losing the toss, they kept the Lankans to 257 and then put on another masterclass with the bat, posting 414. Steven Smith enjoyed his purple catch, getting conecutive Test hundreds and becoming the leading century maker in Asia in Tests as an Aussie while the others, though not quite displaying a repeat of the first Test, managed to hang in for small but meaningful stands. Alex Carey was excellent, getting his first Test ton in 2-and-a half years and he will hope that he gets more chances to bat higher in the order in future. Once the lead of 157 was earned, it was always a question of whether it will be another innings defeat or will the Aussies get to bat again and they made a short work of the run chase.

Spare a thought for Dimuth Karunaratne. It is his final Test. He would have loved to end his career with a win but unfortunately, it could not happen for him. However, in terms of personal highs, he ends as Sri Lanka's fourth highest run getter, with 7222 runs at an average of 39.25, with 16 centuries. As a captain, he averaged 49.86 with the bat and his greatest point in his thrilling career as a skipper has to be the 2-0 series win in South Africa, in 2019. Additionally, since January 2015, Karunaratne scored 6276 runs in Tests as an opener, the most by any batter, at an average of 40.75. Wow, to stay on top for a decade - amazing. Take a bow, Dimuth. A sad way to finish your career but wish you all the very best in the next phase of your life.

A Test series win in the Island nation for Australia after 14 years. Without a doubt, they showed strong technicalities but one has to praise the coaching staff and management for picking the players for this series. If they picked an enterprising Sam Konstas to rattle a hot Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG, they went with experience in these turning conditions, taking the punt to push Travis Head to open. It worked at the MCG and it has worked in Galle, that too, twice. Fourth successive Test win for the Aussies and going a bit further, they have now been unbeaten for the last 6 Tests.

AUSTRALIA WIN THE SECOND TEST MATCH BY 9 WICKETS! A clean sweep for them as they have executed their plans to perfection right from day one. Tossed up, around middle, Marnus Labuschagne comes forward and nudges it towards square leg for a single and hits the winning runs. A 2-0 series win for the Kangaroos.

Similar ball, this time Marnus works it through mid-wicket. The timing is excellent and perhaps Labuschagne thinks it will be a boundary and runs the first one a touch slowly. He gets down to the other end and turns, looks up and sees the fielder get to the ball. Stops but then sees Khawaja charge across and resumes running for the second. Makes it in comfortably in the end. A run more needed for the win now.

A touch short, around off, spinning in, Labuschagne stays back and nudges it to the leg side.

Full, around leg stump, Marnus Labuschagne sweeps it fine but straight to short fine leg.

Well done, Dhananjaya de Silva! In his last Test and the last inning, Dimuth Karunaratne has been given the ball. What a touching moment. Reminds us of what MS Dhoni did with Sourav Ganguly in the latter's last Test. Excellent gesture. Karunaratne will bowl off spin.

Flighted up, around off, Usman Khawaja defends it off the front foot. Australia need just 3 runs.

Floated up, around off, Usman Khawaja strides forward and blocks it off towards cover.

Tossed up, just outside off, Marnus Labuschagne comes forward and dabs it towards backward point and calls for two but is sent back by Usman Khawaja and gets a single only.

On middle and leg, Marnus Labuschagne goes back to flick but misses and is hit on the pads.

Full, on middle, Khawaja whips this through mid-wicket and has enough time to come back for the third. Just a hit away from the win now.

Howzzat for LBW? Not out. Howzzat for a catch then? Not given. Okay, then review taken. No real celebration in the Sri Lankan camp with Dhananjaya de Silva just smiling, resigningly. It was a full ball outside off and Usman Khawaja looked to sweep. The ball went off something and the bowler and keeper immediately appealed for LBW. Meanwhile, Dhananjaya de Silva made a brilliant one-handed diving stop to his right and appealed for the catch as well. With both not given and not having much to lose, he signalled for the review. UltraEdge did not detect any bat, indicating that the ball went off the pad but Ball Tracking showed the impact to be well outside off. For the record, Sri Lanka have only 1 review left.

Comes around the wicket, flighted up, around middle, Marnus Labuschagne flicks it towards mid on off the front foot.

Floated up, around leg, Marnus Labuschagne comes forward and pads it away.

Tossed up, much fuller, around middle, Marnus Labuschagne stays low and digs it out towards square leg.

Outside leg, Marnus looks to sweep but misses. The keeper is blinded and misses the ball as well and by the time short fine leg can cut it off, two byes are taken. This stand is worth 30 now.

Fuller on middle, watchfully defended.

FOUR! Top shot. This innings may not be a big thing regarding a big score to enhance Marnus Labuschagne's career, but to spend some time in the middle will give a big boost to his confidence. With Webster, Konstas and McSweeney in the reckoning and Cameron Green expected to be fit for the World Test Championship final, the calls are getting louder by every match to drop Labuschagne from the side. It is all about confidence and this shot shows he is not short of that. Full, on middle and leg, Labuschagne comes forward and whips it efficiently with his wrists, getting it through mid-wicket for a boundary. 9 more runs needed to win now.