Watch cricket video highlights of Australia tour of Sri Lanka 2025. Second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka. Venue of the match will be Galle.
Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Report
Steven Smith concluded a remarkable series as captain, achieving his 200th Test catch; however, he did not need to bat as Australia effectively secured a rare series win in Asia on the fourth day. After finishing Sri Lanka’s second innings within the first 20 minutes of play that day, Australia only experienced the loss of opener Travis Head while chasing the 75-run victory target, ultimately winning the second Test by nine wickets and sweeping the series 2-0.
Usman Khawaja, who set the pace with a double century in the first Test, remained unbeaten on 27, while Marnus Labuschagne contributed a smooth 26 not out, which was a boost to his confidence amid concerns about his spot in the team. Spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon were instrumental, each taking four wickets in Sri Lanka’s second innings, highlighting their excellent performance throughout the series. Together, they captured 30 of the 40 Sri Lankan wickets during the series.
This marked Australia’s first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 2011, following four losses in five matches during the tours of 2016 and 2022. Australia’s only other series win in Asia since 2011 occurred in Pakistan three years prior. The only worry for Australia was Smith’s fitness; he appeared to be in discomfort while fielding, likely due to a pre-existing elbow injury sustained in the BBL ahead of the series. Nonetheless, he stayed on the field and was geared up to bat.
Sri Lanka’s chances of a challenging chase relied heavily on Kusal Mendis, who had quickly scored 48 during a counterattack late in day three. When play resumed at 211 for 8 with a lead of 54, Sri Lanka moved Lahiru Kumara up to No. 10 after he survived 26 balls in the first innings, forming a 33-run last wicket partnership with Mendis. Mendis reached his second half-century of the match on his second ball of the day but was dismissed shortly after by a sharp delivery from Lyon that resulted in a top-edge caught at fine-leg.
Where Smith became the first Australian to achieve 200 Test catches. With Sri Lanka’s aspirations extinguished, the focus shifted to whether Kuhnemann or Lyon could secure a five-wicket haul. Lyon had two significant lbw appeals against Nishan Peiris turned down by umpire Adrian Holdstock as Australia unsuccessfully reviewed the decisions. Lyon’s frustration mounted when Kumara edged a low ball to Beau Webster at second slip, only for replays to reveal it hadn’t carried.
Webster ultimately ended the innings by clean bowling Kumara with his first delivery, replicating his performance from late on day three. This concluded a strong overall performance for Webster, who demonstrated his adaptability with the ball and also took several sharp catches. In urgent need of early wickets, captain Dhananjaya de Silva turned to his offspinners, and Peiris delivered impressive spin, but Head capitalized on the bowlers’ errors in length.
Following a shaky beginning, Head smashed Ramesh Mendis down the ground, and Khawaja struck a few boundaries as Australia began to take control of the game. De Silva quickly turned to left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, who soon dismissed Head with a top-edge. With only 37 runs required, Labuschagne had little to prove after struggling during this series, caught in a century drought that dated back to the 2023 Ashes. He calmed his nerves with a brilliant shot to the boundary and hammered another off Jayasuriya to secure Australia’s 50 runs.
After a challenging tour, Labuschagne found relief in scoring the winning run as Australia celebrated their first series clean sweep in Asia since their 2-0 victory over Bangladesh in 2006. Matches between these teams in Sri Lanka had typically been closely contested, but Australia changed the narrative with successive, dominating performances reminiscent of the Steve Waugh era. Their team selections proved effective, with contributions from all around.
Including four players scoring centuries and a bowling attack that effectively dismantled Sri Lanka’s faltering batting lineup. Lone pacer Mitchell Starc capitalized on his impressive track record in Sri Lanka, while Kuhnemann achieved a series-high of 16 wickets at an average of 17.18, showcasing his value in these conditions. He demonstrated commendable resilience by playing through a thumb injury sustained in a BBL match on January 16. After a limited role during the seam-dominated series against India.
Lyon, as anticipated, took on considerable responsibility and finished with 14 wickets at an average of 22.5. However, this contest for the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy will be particularly remembered for stand-in captain Smith. He showcased his expertise in Asian conditions with remarkable back-to-back centuries as his resurgence continues. Smith led expertly in Pat Cummins’ absence, with his tactical awareness shining through as he made all the right decisions on the field. In contrast, Sri Lanka had a disappointing performance, resulting in a disheartening conclusion for retiring opener Dimuth Karunaratne as they faced their fourth consecutive Test defeat.
