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Australia vs Sri Lanka, First Test, Day 3: Kusal Mendis Puts Sri Lanka in Driver's Seat Versus Australia
Kusal Mendis led Sri Lanka's fightback on Day 3 with a gritty 169 not out against Australia before rains brought a premature end to the third day's play in the first Test at Pallekele. Catch the highlights of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia from Pallekele here
Kusal Mendis scored an unbeaten 169 as Sri Lanka imposed a lead of 196 runs before rain brought a premature end to the third day's play of the first Test against Australia at Pallekele. Catch the highlights of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia here. (SCORECARD | PLAY FANTASY CRICKET)
Mitchell Starc (C) celebrates with teammates after taking a wicket on Day 2.
© AFP
Mendis reached his maiden Test hundred just after the lunch on Day 3.
Sri Lanka were 116/4 when play resumed in the day's second session. The hosts had lost wickets in quick succession in the first session, before Mendis' knock helped steady the ship.
Earlier, Rangana Herath and Lakshan Sandakan took four wickets each as Sri Lanka dismissed Australia for 203 in its first innings, giving the visitors a lead of 86 runs.
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Live Score: Sri Lanka vs Australia
It was a sorry bowling performance by Australia. The injury to O'Keefe didn't help their cause either. Mitchell Starc finished with four wickets but he went for aplenty as well. Now, their batsmen have to apply themselves on a testing wicket, if they want to come out of this Test match unscathed. Stay tuned for Australia's reply.
Kusal Mendis was an absolute star with the bat. He played a fabulous knock on a testing wicket and showed great maturity. Along with Chandimal and de Silva, he added vital runs and then Rangana Herath played a very handy cameo to stretch the lead beyond the 250-run mark.
Right then, Sri Lanka have challenged Australia to chase down 268 runs to win this Test match! That doesn't look like a big target but if you consider the nature of the pitch and Australia's first innings' batting against spin, then it's a very challenging one.
OUT! What a catch! Good length delivery angling away from the batsman, around off, Herath plays an uppish drive towards short extra cover where Henriques dives to his left to grab an excellent one-handed catch. That's a stunner to end Sri Lanka's innings, all out for 353!
Slightly short in length and outside off, Herath stays back, tries to cut but fails to connect.
Full in length and angling away from the batsman, Herath shoulders arms.
On a length and outside off, Pradeep plays late and places it in the gap at covers for a single. Does his job of handing the strike back to Rangana!
Back of a length ball outside leg, Herath tries his best to get bat on ball after walking across the stumps but fails to make any connection.
Goes full with his length this time but the line is once again poor. Pradeep fails to flick but it goes off his pads to fine leg for a leg bye.
Wayward delivery, short and way down the leg side, Pradeep leaves it and Nevill dives full length to collect the ball.