Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 3 Highlights: Dinesh Chandimal's Unbeaten Century Keeps Sri Lanka In Driver's Seat
Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd Test Highlights: Dinesh Chandimal scored 118 not out to help Sri Lanka reach 431/6 against Australia on Day 3 of the second Test
- NDTV Sports Desk
- Updated: July 10, 2022 06:10 pm IST
Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd Test, Day 3 Highlights: Sri Lanka continued to dominate Australia with the bat as they reached 431/6 on Day 3 of the ongoing second Test in Galle. They now lead the guests by 67 runs. Dinesh Chandimal remained not out on 118 while Kamindu Mendis was dismissed on 61 on Sunday. Resuming at their overnight score of 184/2, Sri Lanka added another 247 runs in the 86 overs bowled on Day 3. Kusal Mendis missed his century as he was dismissed by Nathan Lyon on his individual score of 85, while Angelo Mathews scored 52 runs before becoming the victim of Mitchell Starc. Kamindu Mendis (61) was cleaned up by Mitchell Swepson on the day, while Niroshan Dickwella's wicket was claimed by Lyon. (SCORECARD)
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Prabath Jayasuriya, Kasun Rajitha
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson
We are back! It is time for Australia to show some character with the bat. The Sri Lankan players are in the huddle and they disperse now to take their respective positions. Outwalk the two openers for Australia, David Warner and Usman Khawaja. Kasun Rajitha has a brand new cherry in his hand. Two slips and a gully for him. Here we go...
... Third Innings ...
Sri Lanka on the other hand, have batted brilliantly on what is a tricky pitch and is expected to get tougher from hereon. Almost all the batters were willing to apply themselves and that reflects in the scorecard as four batters notched up the fifties. The stand-out player though was Chandimal as he scored a double ton and has taken his team to a very strong position here. It is also the most number of overs, Sri Lanka have ever faced against Australia in a single innings of a Test match. Can Australia fightback? We will be back with Australia’s second outing with the bat. Stay tuned.
Australia were made to toil hard with the ball and they would have hoped to wrap things up quickly after Lunch. However, they ended up leaking way too many runs and though Starc finished with four wickets, the disappointing part for the Aussies would be that their spinners could not do the job the way everyone expected them to do. It is upto their batters now to bat well and keep their hopes alive in this game.
Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 554 and the home side now have a very formidable lead of 190. What a knock though it has been from Chandimal, notching up his maiden double century and ended up with an extraordinary unbeaten knock of 206! This is the highest score by Sri Lankan against Australia in a Test match as he surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s 192 at Hobart.
OUT! LBW! Finally, Sri Lanka are dismissed on 554. Tossed up, around off, it spins in. Kasun Rajitha gets on the front foot but defends the wrong line. He gets rapped on the pads and the umpire raises his finger after the appeal. Kasun Rajitha reviews it but that was plumb. The decision stays and Sri Lanka end with a lead of 190 runs.
Tossed up on off. Kasun Rajitha blocks it off the front foot.
Flatter and on off. Chandimal pushes it to covers for a single. Trusting Kasun Rajitha now.
Two! Fuller and on off. Chandimal pushes it to deep extra cover and takes two easily.
Fuller and outside off, turning away. Left alone.
Shorter and outside off. Chandimal blocks it on the off side.
Mitchell Swepson (37-2-100-2) is back into the attack.
On a length and on middle, Kasun Rajitha defends it back to the bowler.
Full and on middle, angling in. Kasun Rajitha knocks it mid on.
Pulls back his length again on off, slower too. Dinesh Chandimal pushes it towards point and takes the single.
On a length and outside off, Dinesh Chandimal guides it to deep backward point. He denies the single again.
Back of a length on middle, Dinesh Chandimal defends it down the pitch.
Full and on middle, Dinesh Chandimal knocks it to mid-wicket.
This is not gonna trouble Kasun Rajitha. Starc bowls it full and way outside leg. Kasun Rajitha is happy to let go and Alex Carey does well to stop that diving to his left.
Too full and outside off, Dinesh Chandimal digs it towards third man for a single.