Sri Lanka – Australia 1st Test: Smith double milestone, Khawaja put Australia on top

Steven Smith and Usman Khawaja run between wickets (Pic courtesy SLC) 

By M. Shamil Amit from Galle

Australia dominated proceedings of the opening day’s play in the first Test match against host Sri Lanka played at the Galle International Stadium with the foundation for the domination being laid by openers Usman Khawaja and Travis Head who gave the side a flying start with an opening wicket stand of 92 runs in just 87 balls.

Khawaja and skipper Smith who ended with unbeaten tons did the finishing touch as a downpour with Australia on 330 for 2 forced the umpires to stop further play. Khawaja hit 147 210 balls with ten boundaries and a six while Smith hit 104 in 188 balls also with ten boundaries and a six and shared an unbroken 195 runs stand for the third wicket.

But Smith was the cynosure of all eyes as he came into the crease needing one run to reach the milestone of scoring 10,000 Test runs which he achieved with the first ball that he faced before the lunch break.

In the process Smith becomes the fourth Australian to reach this milestone following Allan Border in 1993, Steve Waugh in 2003 and Ricky Ponting in 2008.

The two sides came into the game loaded with spinners but the decision of opting to bat first by skipper Smith who won the toss proved to be a blessing disguise as openers Khawaja and Head frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers with their don’t care approach.

Left arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya who made a successful debut against Australia in 2022 where he finished with a 12 wicket match bag was unable to have any success though giving the side the first break with the wicket of Head who made a 40 ball knock of 57 with ten boundaries and a six.

The Aussies further frustrated the bowlers with Khawaja joined by Marnus Labuschagne sharing a brief stand of 43 runs for the second wicket as Australia went into the lunch break on 145 for 2 with Khawaja unbeaten on 65.

The post lunch session turned out to be successful for the visitors as the pair posted their 50 runs stand for the third wicket in even time in 60 balls. This followed with the 200 runs coming on the board and Smith racing to his half ton which took him 57 balls that included six boundaries and a six.

However the two batsmen had narrow escapes off deliveries of spinner Jayasuriya.

Nevertheless Khawaja undeterred succeeded to race to his ton which came off 135  balls that comprised eight boundaries and a six and this was his 16th ton of his career. The Aussies having posted the 250 runs with the minimum of fuss went into the tea break in a strong position of 261 for 2 with Khawaja on 119 and Smith 64.  

The match will be continued today.