GALLE: Prabath Jayasuriya claimed 12 wickets in his dream debut and Dinesh Chandimal smashed his maiden double hundred to secure Sri Lanka’s memorable series-levelling victory in the second Test against Australia on Monday.

Chandimal smashed 206 not out, first double hundred by a Sri Lanka batter against Australia, providing the bedrock for the team’s imposing 554 in reply to Australia’s 364 in the first innings.

Possessing a handy 190-run cushion, Sri Lanka unleashed their three-pronged spin attack and Jayasuriya routed Australia for 151 in their second innings claiming 6-59 at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka’s victory by an innings and 39 runs, which came in four days, is also the first time they have inflicted an innings defeat on Australia.

Australia after the heavy loss also lost their top World Test Championship position to South Africa.

“South Africa take over as the new leaders on the latest standings with a win-loss percentage of 71.43 percent, while Australia drop to second with 70 percent after their first Test loss in the current period,” the International Cricket Council said.

“Our boys bounced back really well after losing the first match and the debutants did an amazing job,” Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne said.

“I knew from the beginning that Prabath would be key for us, he did a great job for us.”

Jayasuriya’s match haul of 12-177, which earned him the man-of-the-match award, is the best figures on a Test debut for Sri Lanka.

It was a stunning display by the 30-year-old who would not have played the match but

for a spate of Covid-19 cases that forced Sri Lanka to field three debutants.

The hosts even had to substitute opener Pathum Nissanka after the first innings as the opener tested positive for the virus.

While wicket-keeper Alex Carey missed a couple of stumpings, Australia paid heavily for casually wasting all their reviews on Sunday.

They were particularly stung when Chandimal, then on 30, edged Mitchell Starc but Australia had run out of reviews and could not challenge the not-out decision.

After Sri Lanka resumed on 431-6, Chandimal, who bagged the man-of-the-series award, mounted a spectacular late charge.

Having reached 185, Chandimal smashed Starc for a boundary and followed it with back-to-back sixes to bring up his double hundred.

Five of Sri Lanka’s top six batsmen registered 50-plus scores to put the hosts in a commanding position.

Australia began their second innings briskly with David Warner and Usman Khawaja playing their shots.

Warner fell in the penultimate over before tea but wheels came off Australia’s innings when the returned after the break.

Jayasuriya rocked them with a two-wicket over to get rid off Khawaja (29) and Steve Smith, who was dismissed lbw for a duck.

Australia slumped from 49 for no loss to 74-4 when Ramesh Mendis removed Travis Head for five.

Jayasuriya sent back Marnus Labuschagne (32) to break Australia’s back and effectively sealed the match removing Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc in the same over.

‘PAKISTAN TO BE MORE CHALLENGING’

Sri Lanka next host Pakistan, who are already in the island nation playing a practice game, for two Tests starting on Saturday in Galle.

Sri Lanka’s big win gives them confidence ahead of the opener but Karunaratne said Pakistan would be a stronger force than the Aussies, with their ability to handle spinners better.

“Pakistan is a strong side, a brilliant team,” said Karunaratne. “I think it will be more challenging than Australia. They play spin well.”

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA: (1st Innings) 364 (M. Labuschagne 104, S. Smith 145 not out; Jayasuriya 6-118)

SRI LANKA (1st Innings, overnight 431-6):

P. Nissanka c Green b Starc 6

D. Karunaratne lbw b Swepson 86

K. Mendis lbw b Lyon 85

A. Mathews c Labuschagne b Starc 52

D. Chandimal not out 206

K. Mendis b Swepson 61

N. Dickwella c Cummins b Lyon 5

R. Mendis lbw b Starc 29

M. Theekshana b Cummins 10

P. Jayasuriya b Starc 0

K. Rajitha lbw b Swepson 0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-6, W-3, NB-1) 14

TOTAL (all out, 181 overs) 554

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-12 (Nissanka), 2-164 (Karunaratne), 3-186 (K. Mendis), 4-269 (Mathews), 5-402 (Kamindu), 6-409 (Dickwella), 7-477 (R. Mendis), 8-498 (Theekshana), 9-505 (Jayasuriya), 10-554 (Rajitha)

BOWLING: Starc 29-3-89-4, Cummins 30-5-95-1 (w2, nb1), Lyon 64-5-194-2, Green 6-0-20-0 (w1), Swepson 38-2-103-3, Head 8-0-27-0, Labuschagne 6-0-16-0

AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings):

D. Warner lbw b R. Mendis 24

U. Khawaja c sub (Fernando) b Jayasuriya 29

M. Labuschagne lbw b Jayasuriya 32

S. Smith lbw b Jayasuriya 0

T. Head b R. Mendis 5

C. Green st Dickwella b Jayasuriya 23

A. Carey not out 16

M. Starc c K. Mendis b Jayasuriya 0

P. Cummins lbw b Theekshana 16

N. Lyon lbw b Theekshana 5

M. Swepson b Jayasuriya 0

EXTRAS (B-1) 1

TOTAL (all out, 41 overs) 151

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-49 (Warner), 2-59 (Khawaja), 3-59 (Smith), 4-74 (Head), 5-112 (Labuschagne), 6-117 (Green), 7-117 (Starc), 8-144 (Cummins), 9-150 (Lyon)

BOWLING: Rajitha 5-1-16-0, Theekshana 5-0-28-2, R. Mendis 15-2-47-2, Jayasuriya 16-2-59-6

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by an innings and 39 runs.

SERIES: Two-match series ends level at 1-1.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2022