![Cricket: Aussie batsmen ram home advantage over Lankans](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2016/07/_2/740x404/pic_1469547036_1.jpg)
Cricket: Aussie Batsmen Ram Home Advantage Over Lankans
Muhammad Rameez Published July 26, 2016 | 08:30 PM
![Cricket: Aussie batsmen ram home advantage over Lankans](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2016/07/_2/740x404/pic_1469547036_1.jpg)
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th july, 2016) - An unbroken stand of 59 between Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja placed Australia in firm command Tuesday of their opening Test against Sri Lanka after the hosts were bowled out for just 117. When rain forced an early end to play on the first day in Pallekele, Australia were 66 for two, with skipper Smith (28) and his partner Khawaja (25) ramming home the advantage forged by their bowlers. No play was possible after tea due to rain, prompting the umpires to call stumps at 4:15 pm.
Play will resume on Wednesday at the earlier time of 9:45 am to make up some of the overs lost. The downpour in Pallekele cast a further gloom over the Sri Lankan side after they recorded their lowest total at the picturesque ground, undone by a combination of Australian pace and spin. Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews decided to bat first on what began as a sunny day, but Australia made early inroads as they reduced the hosts to 84 for five at lunch. They only needed a further 6.2 overs in the second session to finish off the batting line-up, with the wickets evenly spread between their fast bowlers and spinners.
Mitchell Starc, returning after eight months of injury, drew first blood for the visitors when he trapped Dimuth Karunaratne lbw for five in the fifth over, prompting the opener to call for an unsuccessful review. Josh Hazlewood, bowling with pace and variety, then trapped Kusal Mendis lbw for eight and had Kaushal Silva caught at first slip by Adam Voges for four. In his second spell, he had vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal caught from behind by wicketkeeper Peter Nevill 10 minutes before lunch. "I think it was a good toss to lose, just to see how that wicket was going to play.
I thought if we bowl well, which we did, we would get a few wickets early," Hazlewood told reporters. Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe claimed the prized wicket of Mathews, caught at first slip by his opposite number Smith. Debutant Dhananjaya de Silva scored a battling 24 but only four other Sri Lankans made it into double figures. Even though he only bowled three overs, Nathan Lyon took three Sri Lankan wickets to vindicate Smith's decision to pick both him and O'Keefe -- who picked up two scalps in only his third Test.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
![Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019914.jpg)
Cricket: England v West Indies 3rd Test scoreboard
![Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on refor ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019922.jpg)
Finance minister briefs Chinese officials on reform agenda, engagement with IMF
![Finland says Russian vessel violated its territori ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019912.jpg)
Finland says Russian vessel violated its territorial waters
![Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019266.jpg)
Olympic opening ceremony under way on River Seine
![West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019264.jpg)
West Indies' treble strike rocks England in third Test
![Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murde ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019262.jpg)
Ukraine court orders detention of suspect in murder of nationalist ex-MP
![Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris ope ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019015.jpg)
Long queues, ticketing problems ahead of Paris opening ceremony
![Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inau ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019638.jpg)
Rana Sanaullah Khan joins Paris 2024 Olympics inauguration reception
![Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Z ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019637.jpg)
Glowing tributes mark 69th birthday of President Zardari at Governor's House
![Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019635.jpg)
Players unaware of spying scandal as Canada Olympic coach sent home: official
![Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fi ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019013.jpg)
Naqvi hails Pak women cricketers for going down fighting against SL
!['Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: ..](https://photo-cdn.urdupoint.com/media/2024/07/_1/235x155/pic_1722019634.jpg)
'Sabotage' on French rail network before Olympics: What we know
More Stories From World
-
Biden talks Gaza ceasefire efforts with king of Jordan
4 hours ago -
Sinaloa Cartel co-founder pleads not guilty after stunning US capture
4 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked ex-presidents going to observe polls
4 hours ago -
Ethiopia mourns victims of landslide tragedy
5 hours ago -
Khan Yunis fighting displaces 180,000 Gazans in four days: UN
5 hours ago -
Trump slams rivals as he meets Netanyahu in Florida
5 hours ago
-
Obama & his wife, Michelle, officially endorse US VP Kamala Harris for president
5 hours ago -
Rain, cooling slow huge blaze in Canada's Jasper park
5 hours ago -
Airbus and Boeing supremacy secure despite turbulence
5 hours ago -
S.African police detain 95 Libyans at suspected military camp
5 hours ago -
'Slapping therapist' guilty over UK diabetic woman's death
6 hours ago -
Panama says Venezuela blocked flight of ex-presidents going to observe polls
6 hours ago