Sri Lanka fought back well on the second day, to be 184 for two wickets, still trailing by 180 runs in the second Test match against Australia at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Kusal Mendis grew in confidence and was playing very fluently to be unbeaten on 84 inclusive of nine boundaries after Australia continuing from 298 for 5 were all out for 364 with Steven Smith unbeaten on 145 with 16 fours.
Australia’s first breakthrough in the Sri Lanka innings came courtesy of a brilliant catch in the gully by Cameron Green who leapt full-stretch to his left to grab Pathum Nissanka’s outside edge off Mitchell Starc. However, Karunaratne would have been run out on 18 if Starc’s throw from mid-on had hit the stumps and in the final over before tea he was given a life when he toe-ended a full toss back towards Mitchell Swepson who couldn’t get into position in his follow through.
Karunaratne was unfortunate to misjudge a turning delivery and was trapped plumb in front of the wickets to Swepson. He scored 86 off 165 deliveries and hit ten boundaries. He and Kusal Mendis put on 152 runs for the second wicket.
After having made a steady start on Saturday, the visitors were reduced from 329 for 5 to 345 for 9 within the space of 22 balls. Smith, who looked untroubled throughout the course of his innings, continued to march on with No 11 Mitchell Swepson. The duo kept Sri Lanka on the field for half an hour more through the course of their last-wicket stand of 19 runs before Swepson was trapped leg-before in front of the wicket.
Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took 6 for 118 on his Test debut to lead a Sri Lanka fight back on the second morning as Australia lost their last five wickets for 35 with Steven Smith left unbeaten on 145.
Kasun Rajitha too added to his tally by trapping Pat Cummins leg-before with an incoming delivery.
The final wicket went to another debutant, Maheesh Theekshana, who opened his account by removing Swepson lbw when there was one ball of the over to survive.