It was a delayed start for the Day 2 after the umpires thought it to be a risk to initiate a play on wet outfield. 15 overs were lost for the day but all together it was tackling day for both the teams as Australians are just 2 wickets away from getting all out but also have a lead of 101 runs.
Ramesh Mendis and Vandersay’s spinning performance took 6 wickets together and Mendis is just one wicket away to take a five-fer.
Sri Lankans have restricted Australia to 313 runs for the Day 2 but with 2 wickets in hand and skipper Cummins in attack, the morning of Day 3 might witness a T20I battle for sometime.
Australia end the Day 2 with 313 runs for 8 wickets. The umpires have called stumps because they believe the light is inadequate. It appears clear enough for the spinners to keep going. However, the officials have determined that’s it for today.
Recap on Sri Lankan innings –
Team Australia managed to sweep down to clean the home side of Sri Lanka by the end of 59 overs as the Sri Lanka batters managed to put up a decent score of 212 runs.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins initiated the attack after taking in the first wicket of opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, followed by Starc’s dominant bowling.
Nathan Lyon continued to bowl from one end and managed to get his first wicket after David Warner dived in for a wonderful catch which in no time got viral throughout the social media.
Nathan Lyon continued to strike from one end and Sweepson joined him after he took two back-to-back wickets claiming to take a historical hattrick but failed to achieve it.
Nonetheless, Dickwell managed to score from one and smashed a quick fifty but Sri Lanka’s 4 wickets were dismissed in just 7 overs after the Tea Break.
Sri Lanka has scored 212 in their first innings, allowing Australians to bat for almost 20 overs today.
Australia (Playing XI): Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Ramesh Mendis, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lasith Embuldeniya, Asitha Fernando
