Watch cricket video highlights of Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025. First Test between Australia and Sri Lanka. Venue of the match will be Galle.
Copyright – Third Party Reference Inline Linking Embedded Video from Youtube
Report
Australia dismissed any worries regarding Galle’s unpredictable weather by overwhelming Sri Lanka’s unimpressive batting lineup throughout two innings on day four, achieving a nearly perfect execution in the first Test. With two sessions on day three lost to rain, Australia’s straightforward path to victory seemed to be under some jeopardy as forecasts predicted more wet conditions for the fourth day.
However, the rain stayed away, allowing Australia to continue their dominance by astonishingly taking 15 wickets to secure a massive innings and 242-run win in a match that effectively spanned only nine sessions. The disparity between the teams was evident; Australia faced 154 overs in their single innings, while Sri Lanka struggled through 106.5 overs in their two innings. This remarkable display came from a revamped Australian side, playing without captain Pat Cummins and featuring a spin-heavy bowling lineup.
Stand-in skipper Steven Smith had everything go his way after winning a favorable toss, allowing Australia to take advantage of a slow wicket to achieve their highest total ever in Asia. Australia’s choice to rearrange their batting order proved to be a brilliant decision, as Josh Inglis made a stunning century on his debut. Additionally, selecting three spinners paid off, with left-arm bowler Matthew Kuhnemann showcasing his importance in the subcontinent by taking nine wickets in the match following a quick recovery from a thumb injury incurred during a BBL match on January 16.
Australia executed their strategies with outstanding preparation and skill with both bat and ball, but they were met with a Sri Lankan side that struggled significantly. Historically, contests between these teams have been fiercely competitive in this setting, but Sri Lanka was thoroughly outplayed and will need to regroup swiftly in time for the second Test at the same venue commencing on February 6. The outcome signifies that Australia has retained the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy.
After being compelled to follow-on and experiencing a collapse of 5 for 9 in their first innings to ultimately be bowled out for 165, Sri Lanka aimed to reset and generate enough resistance to hold out into the late afternoon when rain was anticipated. Yet, Sri Lanka’s plight continued in their second innings against left-arm quick Mitchell Starc and off-spinner Todd Murphy, both of whom had not bowled for nearly 24 hours.
In the third over, opener Oshada Fernando was plumb lbw to a sharp in-swinging delivery from Starc, using up a review in another instance of poor decision-making regarding technology from Sri Lanka during this match. This situation brought Dinesh Chandimal to the crease less than an hour after his dismissal in the first innings. However, he witnessed from the other end as opener Dimuth Karunaratne misjudged a delivery and was clean bowled by Murphy without attempting to play a shot.
Remarkably, Sri Lanka lost 7 wickets for just 15 runs across both innings in a little over an hour. Nonetheless, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews formed a 69-run partnership, Sri Lanka’s most successful of the match, offering some delayed resistance. Tragedy struck in the last over before lunch when Chandimal, on 31, edged a delivery from Lyon to short leg, leading Australia to successfully challenge the not-out ruling. Upon resuming after the break, the main curiosity revolved around how swiftly Australia could dismantle the remaining Sri Lankan batting order.
However, Smith, who had been so insightful throughout the match, made a rare error in judgment by opting not to review an lbw appeal against Mathews, who missed a reverse sweep attempt off Nathan Lyon. Replays indicated that the not-out call would have been overturned, but it did not disrupt Australia’s flow despite an entertaining cameo from Kamindu Mendis. Kamindu launched an aggressive assault, displaying the same kind of form that had led him to average 74 across 10 Tests prior to this match.
He struck Kuhnemann straight down the ground for a boundary to quickly reach 32, but on the very next delivery, he misjudged a ball and was caught out at deep midwicket. This dismissal was another lackluster moment for Sri Lanka, giving Kuhnemann his first wicket against left-handed batsmen in Test matches after having previously struggled significantly, allowing 108 runs from 101 balls. Mathews soon succumbed to Lyon at short leg after misplaying a reverse sweep, while captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis forged a partnership worth half a century to delay the inevitable.
Dhananjaya carelessly gave away his wicket yet again in this match, and despite Jeffrey Vandersay achieving a maiden Test half-century and being Sri Lanka’s standout bowler in Australia’s first innings, it was only a matter of time. Lyon added a few more wickets to conclude with impressive match figures of 7 for 135, having had little involvement during the recent series against India. The outcome was quick, but Australia’s entrance to the day was marked by some nervousness.
Doubts had been raised regarding whether Australia had batted too long in their first innings as they achieved their highest total in Asia. Starting their first innings at 136 for 5, Sri Lanka found a glimmer of hope for a draw due to unexpected wet weather. However, they urgently needed Chandimal to continue after he had crafted an attractive half-century on day three. Chandimal and Kusal Mendis faced significant pressure as the last recognized batsmen before the lower order.
Smith began with Kuhnemann and Lyon right away as Chandimal executed the reverse sweep that had proven effective on the abbreviated day three. Sri Lanka’s batters took a cautious approach, with Kuhnemann generating uncomfortable bounce that sporadically surged off the surface. Mendis resorted to his preferred sweep against Kuhnemann and struck a boundary that raised Sri Lanka’s total to 150. However, Australia had prepared well with their strategy and prompted Mendis into the sweep shot with two fielders strategically placed at deep square leg.
Unable to restrain himself, Mendis top-edged a sweep, resulting in a clean catch by a sprinting Murphy at square leg. The responsibility fell on Chandimal, who struggled to regain the rhythm he had earlier in the innings. His steadfast effort concluded at 72 when he failed to execute a reverse sweep and was adjudged lbw to Lyon, despite a failed review. Sri Lanka’s tail crumbled swiftly with Kuhnemann achieving his second five-wicket haul in his Test career, following his 5 for 16 against India in Indore. But he was just warming up as Australia proceeded toward handing Sri Lanka their most significant defeat in Test history.
