“Sri Lanka Collapse, Losing 5 Wickets for 9 Runs, Bowled Out for 165 Just 45 Minutes Into the Day’s Play”
Kuhnemann
“Sri Lanka 165 (Chandimal 72, de Silva 22; Kuhnemann 5-63, Lyon 3-57) trail Australia 654/6 dec by 489 runs”
Australia’s spirits soared under clear skies in Galle as they tightened their grip on the first Test, with spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon dismantling a struggling Sri Lanka early on day four.
Sri Lanka crumbled, losing 5 for 9 to be bowled out for 165 just 45 minutes into the day’s play. Holding a commanding 489-run lead and with his bowlers well-rested, stand-in captain Steven Smith enforced the follow-on as expected.
Kuhnemann, playing his first Test in nearly two years, starred with three wickets in the morning session, completing a stellar 5 for 63. Lyon provided strong support, finishing with 3 for 57.
Sri Lanka’s struggles in the match continued, with only Dinesh Chandimal providing resistance through a fluent 72. A vastly improved second-innings effort would be required to salvage the Test.
With the final two sessions of day three washed out, Australia’s nerves were tested by the threat of rain in the afternoon. Resuming at 136 for 5, Sri Lanka had a glimmer of hope for a draw, but much depended on Chandimal, who had impressed with a stylish half-century on day three.
Chandimal and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis carried the burden as the last recognized batters before the tail. Stand-in captain Steven Smith immediately turned to spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon, while Chandimal looked to his reliable reverse sweep, which had served him well in the rain-affected play the previous day.
Sri Lanka’s start was cautious, with Kuhnemann extracting sharp bounce from the surface. Mendis, favoring his sweep shot, brought up Sri Lanka’s 150 with a well-timed boundary. However, Australia had set the trap, positioning two fielders deep square of the wicket. Mendis couldn’t resist the temptation and top-edged a sweep, with Todd Murphy sprinting in from square leg to take a sharp catch.
With Chandimal struggling to rediscover his rhythm, the pressure mounted. His resistance came to an end when he misjudged a reverse sweep and was trapped lbw by Lyon, unsuccessfully reviewing the decision.
Sri Lanka’s tail collapsed in quick succession, with Kuhnemann completing his second Test five-wicket haul, sealing another dominant session for Australia.
