Repetto getting ready
angana Herath claimed four Australian wickets to spin Sri Lanka to a remarkable 106run victory on an intriguing final day in the weather-hit first Test in Pallekele yesterday.
A hamstrung Steve O’Keefe and Peter Nevill tried to delay the inevitable with nearly 30 overs of dogged resistance but could not deny Sri Lanka only their second Test win over Australia which put the hosts 1-0 up in the three-match series.
Chasing 268 runs for victory, Australia eventually folded for 161 in Steve Smith’s first loss as their Test captain.
Australia set a new record as the last 154 deliveries of their innings did not produce a single run. O’Keefe and Nevill also featured in the slowest partnership in Test cricket among those that lasted at least 100 balls.
It was a remarkable win for Sri Lanka, who were shot out for 117 in the first innings and were reeling at six for two in the second before Kusal Mendis made an epic 176, which earned him the manof-the-match award. “Credit to Kusal, the way he played and scored 176 which certainly turned this game. It was tough to come back from there,” Smith said at the presentation ceremony.
Find ways
Smith admitted that Australia, who trail the three-match series, will have to find a way to tackle the spinning conditions. Australia’s last outing to the sub-continent saw them lose all four Tests against India in 2013 and they also lost both matches when Pakistan hosted them for a two-Test series in 2014 in the UAE. “We have got to find our plans and find ways to play in these conditions. 1-0 down in a threematch series so have to turn it around quickly,” said Smith.
“We were sure 268 on this wicket on day four and five was going to be difficult and it turned out to be that way.” said Herath, who claimed 4-49 in the first innings, took 5-54 in the second and fittingly sealed the win by bowling O’Keefe, who is unlikely take part in the remainder of the series, towards the end of the afternoon session. “I don’t have words to explain after a very hard few months. We regrouped, trained really well and prepared to the best,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said.
He praised Mendis as a “special talent” while also praising Herath and left-arm Chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan, who claimed seven wickets on a memorable Test debut. “He is a brilliant find for us,” Mathews said. “We looked at the wicket and knew it was going to turn. So we thought playing another spinner would be ideal and he responded brilliantly.”
Sri Lanka 1st innings: 117 Australia 1st innings: 203 Sri Lanka 2nd innings: 353 Australia 2nd Innings: (Overnight Australia 83 for three)
J. Burns b Sandakan D. Warner b Herath U. Khawaja lbw b D. Perera S. Smith lbw b Herath A. Voges c & b Herath M. Marsh lbw b Herath P. Nevill c Chandimal b De Silva M. Starc c & b Sandakan N. Lyon lbw b Sandakan S. O’Keefe b Herath J. Hazlewood not out
Extras: Total: Fall of wickets: Bowling:
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0 161
(all out in 88.3 overs) 1-2 (Warner), 2-33 (Khawaja), 3-63 (Burns), 4-96 (Voges), 5-139 (Marsh), 6-140 (Smith), 7-141 (Starc), 8-157 (Lyon), 9-161 (Nevill), 10-161 (O’Keefe) Pradeep 6-3-16-0, Herath 33.3-16-54-5, D. Perera 13-3-30-1, Sandakan 25-8-49-3, De Silva 11-7-12-1.