Two sensational seventies from Cameron Green and Usman Khawaja gave Australia a vital lead over Sri Lanka on a weather-affected second day in Galle as the pitch continued to deteriorate quickly.
Green made 77, his fifth Test half-century, and Khawaja 71 while Alex Carey put on a sweeping masterclass to add a valuable 47-ball 45. The trio produced the two highest partnerships of the match on the difficult surface. Khawaja and Green put on 57 in 77 balls before Green and Carey combined for 84 in just 93 to help Australia to 313 for 8 at stumps when bad light stopped play just moments after Pat Cummins hit his third six out of the ground. Cummins’ 26 not out helped Australia’s lead swell to 101 with two wickets remaining.
Ramish Mendis bowled tirelessly to collect 4 for 107, but Sri Lanka bowled just one maiden in 69 overs, at a team economy rate of 4.53. Sri Lanka’s three other specialist bowlers, Asitha Fernando, Lasith Embuldeniya and Jeffrey Vandersay combined for 2 for 175 from 33 overs.
