Category Archives: Russel Arnold

Having been three for 58 at the end of the first session, Sri Lanka nosedived in the second, losing five wickets for 64 runs, before eventually crashing to a sub-par 144 not out. In response, Marcus Harris put together a 40 not out, surviving for 25 overs, as Australia scored exactly half of Sri Lanka’s runs for the loss of two wickets, before stumps.

  Jhye Richardson punches the air after picking up his first Test wicket Getty Images

The only man to cross fifty on day one was Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, without whose 64 off 78 balls, the visitors’ predicament would have been even more pathetic. For Australia, Pat Cummins picked up 4 for 39, but debutant Jhye Richardson was arguably even more impressive, claiming 3 for 26 fom his 14 overs. Among Richardson’s wickets were those of Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis – two key batsmen in the Sri Lanka top order. The ball to dismiss Mendis was perhaps the best of the day, that delivery angled in to the right hander, before leaving him off the pitch, to beat his outside edge and then rattle off stump.