Spin dominates on the first day between Australia and Sri Lanka

 The first day of the first Test match between hosts Sri Lanka and visiting Australian team saw spin playing a huge role played at Galle International Stadium, Galle on Wednesday.

Sri Lankan captain Dimuth Karaunate won the toss and decided to bat first. Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karaunate got off to a decent start against Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Nathan Lyon was bought early into the attack by Cummins as there was a lot of turn and bounce on the pitch. The Sri Lankan openers looked solid keeping the momentum going. Pat Cummins got a breakthrough by dismissing Nissanka with a lovely delivery providing a simple catch to Carey. Lankan openers added 38 runs for the opening partnership laying a strong foundation.

Mitchell Starc then got rid of Kusal Mendis with a wider delivery providing an easy catch to Carey leaving the Lankan team on the backfoot. The experienced duo of Karaunate and Mathews steadied the ship for hosts against Australian spinners including Lyon and Swepson. Sri Lanka scored 68 for 2 at end of the first session.

It was a great start for the Australian team in the second session as Nathan Lyon grabbed the wicket of Karaunate with a stunning catch by Warner at slips. Karaunate and Mathews added 32 runs for the 3^rd wicket. Mitchell Swepson took 2 big wickets of Dhanajaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal in quick succession to leave Lanka in trouble at 97 for 5.

Niroshan Dickwella put the Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Swepson under pressure with counter-attacking shots with sweeps and reverse sweeps. Mathews also looked impressive keeping the scoreboard ticking making life tough for the visitors. Lyon ended the partnership by dismissing Mathews that turned giving a simple catch to Warner at leg slip. Mathews and Dickwella added 42 runs for the 6^th wicket. Ramesh Mendis joined in with Dickwella keeping the scoreboard ticking against Lyon and Swepson.

Dickwella completed fifty off 42 balls and put enough pressure on Australian bowlers along with Mendis. Sri Lanka reached 191 for 6 at the end of the tea break.

Australia began the third session on a good note as Nathan Lyon got rid of Ramesh Mendis. Ramesh Mendis was given not out but on review, it was overturned to out as it was hitting the stumps. Mendis and Dickwella added 54 runs for the 7^th wicket. Dickwella's brilliant innings came to an end with a good catch by Carey. A superb catch by Usman Khawaja at short midwicket resulted in the wicket of Emdbulyena. Jeffery Vandersay contributed vital runs before being caught by Starc to be bowled out for 212 runs in the first innings. Lyon and Swepson grabbed 8 wickets between them.

In reply, Warner and Usman Khawaja began the innings on an aggressive note hitting the bad deliveries away for boundaries. Australian openers showed intent against Lankan spinners of Ramesh Mendis and Lasith Emdbulyena.

Ramesh Mendis got his rhythm going getting the big wicket of Warner with a lovely delivery. Warner and Khawaja added 47 runs laying a strong foundation. Marnus Labuschagne and Khawaja kept the momentum going putting enough pressure on the Lankan spinners lacking consistency.

Ramesh Mendis grabbed his 2^nd wicket dismissing Labuschagne providing an easy catch to Ashita Fernando. Steve Smith was brilliantly run out in a mix-up leaving Australia in some trouble. Ramesh Mendis troubled both Khawaja and Travis Head. Dickwella missed two golden chances of stumpings.

After a few poor overs, Lankan spinners got rhythm and troubled Australian batsmen, especially Ramesh Mendis. Australia ended the first day at 98 for 3.

Australia 98 for 3 in 25 overs (Usman Khawaja 47*, Warner 25, Ramesh Mendis 2/35) trail Sri Lanka 212 in 59 overs ( Dickwella 58, Mathews 39, Lyon 5/90, Swepson 3/55) by 114 runs.

 

Khawaja ended the first day not out on 47 against Lanka at Galle