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Starc claims 5 wickets, but Lanka have advantage
GALLE: Half centuries from the in-form Kusal Mendis and skipper Angelo Mathews gave Sri Lanka the edge over Australia on the opening day of the second Test on Thursday
GALLE: Half centuries from the in-form Kusal Mendis and skipper Angelo Mathews gave Sri Lanka the edge over Australia on the opening day of the second Test on Thursday despite a five-wicket haul from Mitchell Starc.
Mendis followed up his maiden century in the first Test with a top score of 86 in Galle as Sri Lanka posted a total of 281 in their first innings before then grabbing two early wickets during the tourists’ response.
Australia were 54 for two at stumps, still trailing the hosts by 227 runs in what is a must-win match for Steve Smith’s side after they lost the first Test last weekend in Pallekele.
Vice-captain David Warner was out on the last ball of the day when he edged Dilruwan Perera to slip after making a quickfire 42 off just 41 balls, an innings which included seven fours.
The debutant Vishwa Fernando also celebrated his first wicket in Test cricket when he sent opener Joe Burns trudging back to the pavilion for nought in only the second ball of the innings.
Usman Khawaja was the notout batsman and he will resume his innings on Friday on 11.
Earlier, Mendis was once again the standout batsman for Sri Lanka, sharing a 108-run stand with Kusal Perera to get the hosts’ innings back on track after losing two early wickets.
PRETTY FLAT WICKET, SAYS STARC
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the close of play, Starc said that it had been “a pretty even day” but acknowledged that what is a turning track would benefit Sri Lanka’s spin-laden line-up.
“That wicket is pretty flat. It’s got no pace in it. It will take a bit of spin. I thought overall we bowled quite well to all the batsmen,” said Starc.
“He (Mendis) backs himself and can be aggressive when he wants to and I think we changed our game plan a little from that first Test and he still batted well today.”
