Aussies rout Lanka to clinch Warne – Murali trophy

Australia turned in an outstanding performance to record an easy 9 wicket win over Sri Lanka in their Warne – Muraliharan trophy second test and the game finished 20 minutes before lunch of the fourth days play yesterday at Galle International Cricket Stadium. Australia registered a 2-0 series win and skipper Steve Smith received Warne – Muraliharan Trophy from SLC umpires committee Chairman Bandula Dissanayake at the presentation ceremony.

It was Australia’s first series victory in Sri Lanka since 2011 having lost four from the 2016 and 2022 tours. Australia’s only other series victory in Asia since 2011 was in Pakistan three years ago.

Australia had 75 run target and opener Travis Head was the only batsman out scoring 20 in 23 balls while Usman Khawaja 26 in 39 balls with 4 fours and Marnus Labuschagne hit 27 in 44 balls with 3 fours added 37 runs unbroken second wicket stand to seal the victory while Marnus Labuschagne hit the winning run off the bowling off Dimuth Karunaratne who bowled last over to finish his test career. In fact leg spinner Prabath Jayasuriya had another five wicket haul at Galle while the experienced Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis had given Sri Lanka hope with making half centuries but Sri Lanka lost late wickets which brought about their defeat and the top order batsmen couldn’t get good start in both innings.

Earlier Sri Lanka resumed their second innings at 211 for 8 wickets while Kusal Mendis and Lahiru Kumara who was promoted to bat ahead of Nishan Pieris were unable to stay long time. The inform batter Kusal Mendis added two runs to complete his 34 th fifty which was his second fifty of the game. The off spinner Nathan Lyon made early breakthrough to dismiss Mendis with Steve Smith taking the catch which was a milestone of his career (200th catch). However Lahiru Kumara was last man out to end the innings and Sri Lanka added only 20 runs to their overnight total yesterday which lasted only 20 minutes.

Matt Kuhnemann the leg spinner and Nathan Lyon the off spinner once again did the damage to take 4 wickets each. Two frontline spinners Lyon and Kuhnemann were outstanding taking 30 of the 40 Sri Lanka wickets in this two test match series. The wicket keeper Alex Carey who had a superb knock of 156 in the first innings was adjudged player of the match while Australia skipper Steve Smith who scored back to back centuries in two tests was named player of the series.

However Sri Lanka were disappointing and a sad end for retiring opener Dimuth Karunaratne.

Source: Daily News