Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE, 2nd Test: Sri Lanka players celebrate the wicket of Usman Khawaja on day 2.
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE, 2nd Test: Sri Lanka were able to add on 28 runs to their overnight score, finishing on 257. They also had a great start to the bowling innings, two wickets in consecutive overs seeing Australia knocked back at 37/2. However, the good form of Khawaja and Smith continued as they put together a half-century partnership. SL returned after the lunch break with the big wicket of Khawaja.…Read More
A back-and-forth day of Test cricket on the first day of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia saw the hosts finish on 229/9, setting up an interesting game of cricket on a turning track in Galle. Three wickets each from sensational spells by Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, as well as a strong and gritty showing with bat by Kusal Mendis, mean that Australia head into the second day likely happier and better-placed, but Sri Lanka leaving themselves plenty to fight for.
For Sri Lanka, day two will be about getting a few bonus runs from the last-wicket partnership, giving a little bit more for their bowlers to defend in the second innings. Having lost in devastating fashion in one of the heaviest losses they have suffered at home, the Lankans will want to sign off on this World Test Championship cycle on a positive note with a result in the second match.
A lot will come down to how their bowling operates in this match compared to the first, where a double century for Usman Khawaja and a pair of centuries for Steven Smith and Josh Inglis pushed Australia well over 600. Sri Lanka won’t want a repeat of that, but on a more bowler-friendly pitch in Galle this time around, and their spinners likely to have more support, the hosts might have a little more confidence.
On the Australian front, scintillating batting form in recent Test matches can only mean that the visitors will want more of the same. Khawaja continued his excellence in Asian conditions, showing that a poor Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign was just a blip as he continues to show his worth to the Australian team as an experienced head at the top of the order. He will have plenty of support from players such as Travis Head, who will go after the new ball, and Smith, who seems to have found something of the form of old.
It will be just as interesting to see what Sri Lanka try and do to stifle the scoring. Australia opened their bowling with spin from one end through Matthew Kuhnemann: is that a tactic that Sri Lanka will look to mimic, particularly to keep Head slightly quieter? There is an expectation that the first innings may well have been the best batting conditions, with the Aussie spinners finding prodigious zip and turn even as early as the second session. Galle could prove to be an absolute minefield, with the likes of Prabath Jayasuriya probably licking their lips at the prospect of tormenting the visiting batters with balls that turn square right from the off.
The key for Sri Lanka will be to ensure that they can expose the inexperienced and relatively raw middle order of the Australian batting early, allowing them to target them with the spinning ball instead of being forced to play defensive cricket against a well-set Travis Head or Steven Smith. Australia do bat deep, but Josh Inglis, Beau Webster, and Cooper Connolly have the experience of three complete Test matches between them: go all-out against the experienced top order, and there will still be plenty of joy for Sri Lanka despite the hammering they received in the first match of this series.
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Feb 7, 2025 1:36 pm IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE: Crucial period of the game now
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE: Into the 35th over of the innings now. It was at this stage of the first innings that Lyon and Kuhnemann really pumped the brakes on Sri Lanka by taking 4 wickets for just 34 runs.
Sri Lanka need someone to do the same for them, but it’s a little too easy for Australia right now. Field is spread and runs are coming, even for the new batter. Little bit more energy needed from the hosts.
126/3.
Feb 7, 2025 1:14 pm IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCORE: 100 up for Australia as Carey joins Smith
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE SCOR: Khawaja’s wicket fell just before Josh Inglis was allowed to bat, given he was off the field for long portions of day one. This means Alex Carey earns a promotion up to number five.
Carey has consistently batted lower than his quality indicates he should. A good player of spin as well, a crucial partnership for Australia now.
From onto 104/3.
Feb 7, 2025 12:58 PM IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Sri Lanka get their wicket! Khawaja departs
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: There is the wicket that the Lankans wanted, and Joel Wilson gets it right this time! The key man Khawaja, 232 in the last match, misses a relative long hop entirely. He tries to play across the line, but it skids on to trap him. Nishan with his second wicket of the innings, and the partnership is broken.
91/3, ideal for Sri Lanka after lunch.
Feb 7, 2025 12:49 PM IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Close call! Good review by Smith
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Almost another breakthrough for SL as the umpire awards a wicket for LBW, but Smith is quick to review. It’s a good call too: he shuffled a fair way outside off stump, and the impact was outside the line. Smith survives.
Feb 7, 2025 12:45 pm IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Welcome back to the second session
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Here we go again for the afternoon session. Plenty could happen as the sun beats down and cracks begin to open up throughout the day. Who’s your money on?
Smith batting on 23*, Khawaja on 34*, their partnership two runs from 50.
Feb 7, 2025 12:25 pm IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Can one of SL’s spinners step up post-lunch?
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: The game turned on day one after Nathan Lyon came in for a phenomenal spell of bowling in the afternoon session, bursting through the Sri Lankan top order and restricting their first innings total.
With Khawaja and Smith looking set and positive at the crease, it will require a similar effort from the hosts’ spinners, otherwise this match could quickly get out of control.
Feb 7, 2025 12:02 PM IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: LUNCH CALLED; Smith, Khawaja rebuild well for Australia
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Australia enjoying that similar pre-20th over period where the ball is still hard enough to find runs, putting on the runs quickly. Sri Lanka’s spinners still finding purchase, though, and it won’t be too long before one of these deliveries breaks through one of this pair.
At the lunch break, a split session, AUS 85/2 and trailing by 172.
Feb 7, 2025 11:35 am IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: 50 up for AUS as Khawaja keeps it moving
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Khawaja and Smith both batting with some positivity, deciding that counter-attack and going for runs is just as safe as trying to block it out on this surface.
Khawaja with a crisp reverse sweep, and after drinks AUS bring up their 50. Now 56/2, trailing by 201.
Feb 7, 2025 11:13 am IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Couple of quick wickets for SL and they are back in it!
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Important wickets for Sri Lanka! First, Dhananjaya da Silva gets Travis Head to nick one to slip, before Jayasuriya slides one with the arm and raps Labuschagne on the pads for three reds.
37/2, just the start SL wanted.
Feb 7, 2025 11:01 am on IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Australia 27/0 after 5
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Comfortable, confident start by Travis Head and Usman Khawaja, with the field already somewhat spread out and the spinners in action. Sri Lanka waiting forsomething to swing in their favour soon,
Feb 7, 2025 10:47 am IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: 8-run first over to get AUS going
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Fast start against the pacers essential for Australia here before Sri Lanka’s spinners can try and wrestle back into it. Exactly the man you would want out these in that situation in Travis Head — cuts well for four runs to get started.
8/0 after 1.
Feb 7, 2025 10:31 am IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Kuhnemann gets the last wicket, SL bowled out for 257
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Australia do finally wrap up the innings, Lahiru Kumara fending at one and edging it to Beau Webster at slip, who takes a good sharp catch.
Kusal stranded on 85*, fine effort from him while batting almost entirely with the tail.
Feb 7, 2025 10:20 am IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Fast start from Mendis, SL reach 250
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Some crucial quick morning runs from the bat of Kusal Mendis. All these are bonus runs for Sri Lanka, who have reached 250. Kusal Mendis onto 82*.
Feb 7, 2025 10:04 am IS
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Hello and welcome!
Sri Lanka Vs Australia LIVE: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Day 2 of the second and final Test of the series between Sri Lanka and Australia. The visitors produced a strong performance with the ball yet again, dislodging nine Sri Lankan wickets on Day 1; Nathan Lyon was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets so far. For Sri Lanka, Dinesh Chandimal came to the rescue yet again after the batting order faltered, scoring 74. Kusal Mendis also stepped up with tailenders, and remains unbeaten on 59.
