Nathan Lyon struck twice very first over after lunch as Lyon’s final figures of 3 for 12 along with the aid provided from the pace department helped Australia bundle Sri Lanka out for 117 in 34.2 overs on Day 1 of the first Test.
The duo of Starc and Steve O’Keefe bagged the last 3 wickets to wrap up the horror show from Sri Lanka. This was Sri Lanka’s fourth lowest total in Tests against Australia, their previous lowest totals being 97, 103 and 105 (Darwin, Melbourne and Galle).
Dhananjaya de Silva, who made his Test debut today, top-scored for Sri Lanka with 24 off 38. His innings was inclusive of 3 boundaries. Dilruwan Perera and de Silva were Lyon’s first two victims and their dismissals left leaving Sri Lanka in a terrible position at 87 for 7 in 28.4 overs.
Just when Lyon was turning the ball, the Lankan batsmen assumed he would do that every delivery. However the off spinner played smart, drifted one right inside and Kusal Perera decided to leave it only to see the ball rattle the top of the off-stump.
That expression on Kusal summed the exact situation of the hosts at that time, they just turned a toss win into a horror innings.
(AGENCIES)
