Has Sri Lanka lost her hold on her favourite venue, the Galle International Stadium, as Australia dominated the two test series’ by thumping the home team by 9 wickets in the second test, whilst handing Sri Lanka their worst ever test defeat In the first .
Guess a rocket scientist nor a prophetic view was needed at the end of day 3 at Galle when Sri Lanka replying to the Australian total of 414 all out, were 211 runs for 8 wickets at close of play with a lead of only 51 runs and 2 wickets in the bag.
Kusal Mendis unbeaten on 48 added just two runs on day 4 and was caught by Steve Smith off a Nathen Lyon slider and Sri Lanka were bowled out for 231 runs with only 75 runs to defend.
Only the Mirracle of Cana would have saved the home team of an imminent whitewash against the best test playing nation in the world, having scored 257 in their first innings and 231 in their second essay to Australian total of 414 all out on day 3.
By the way, the only session that Sri Lanka won in the entire series was the first session of day 3 when they scalped 7 wickets for 84 runs. This proves the point that Sri Lanka was meek and pusho,vers against a far superior team in all three departments of the game.
Angelo Mathews, who made 76 runs in the second innings, was building a partnership with Kusal Mendis with Sri Lanka on 198 for 5 wickets, but he blew it away with a brain failure of a stroke trying to clear the mid wicket fence by playing against the wind that too against an Australian fielding unit. That opened the flood gates. Hence, we all know that you let the Aussies in , and they will exploit even your plan B or even your plan C with their professional exploiting methods.
Credit to Mathew Kuhnemann for his 4 wicket scalping for 63 , Nathen Lyon for his 4 for 84, and Boer Webster 2 for just 6 runs as the Australian spin cordon gave Sri Lanka their own medicine in their own backyard on a tricky day 4 pitch at Galle.
Sri Lankan top order batters barring Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, and Kusal Mendis did not get amongst the runs, but against the might of Australia, you need to make your effort count by batting for longer periods to stay competitive.
Alex Carey, the glove man, was adjudicated as the man of the match for his brilliant 156. This effort superseded the previous record held by a wicket Keeper for Australia against Sri Lanka in Adam Gilchrist, who made 144 at Asgiriya in Kandy.
Man of the series in the Warne Murali trophy for the year 2025 was awarded to Steve Smith for his memorable performance in alien conditions as per the appended details.
1) 2 hundreds back to back
Back in the two series.
2) Reaching his 10000 runs in test cricket, joining former greats Rickey Ponting , Brian Lara , Kumar Sangakara, Satchin Tendulkar.
3) Achieving the highest score in subcontinent conditions by an Australian beating the previous record held by Rickey Ponting.
4) Recording his 7th century in subcontinent conditions and his 4th against Sri Lanka.
5) Scalping his 199th victim in the Slip Cordon.
For Steve Smith, Galle will live in his memory forever, and for all of us , not only his achievements but his fantastic leadership and his cricketing brains.
Take a bow, sir. It’s the perfect script as you come to the end of a perfect day, for Steve Smith and his team Australia.
