Galle: Australia achieved their biggest Test victory on the subcontinent, crushing Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the first Test of their ongoing series here on Saturday.
The visitors' exceptional all-round performance, bolstered by a dominant display from their spinners and a key contribution from Mitchell Starc, saw Sri Lanka crumble for just 247 runs in 64.5 overs in their second innings, with the final wickets falling swiftly on a rain-affected fourth day.
The Australia earlier enforced follow-on to Sri lanka after they were bowled out for 165 in the first innings in reply to visitor's mammoth total of 654/6 declared in their first innings.
Australia's remarkable triumph eclipses their previous biggest margin on subcontinental soil—a 2002 victory over Pakistan in Sharjah by an innings and 198 runs. It also surpasses Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat on home soil, a 239-run loss to Pakistan in 2023.
The match, marred by monsoonal rain on day three, saw Australia assert complete dominance. The spin trio of Matthew Kuhnemann (9 wickets), Nathan Lyon (7), and Todd Murphy (1) provided relentless pressure, backed by Starc’s incisive seam bowling.
Despite Sri Lanka’s hopes of a late resistance, they fell apart under the weight of Australia’s strategic field placements and relentless attack. The hosts' batting, devoid of substance, surrendered meekly, with key players like Dinesh Chandimal and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva contributing to their downfall. Sri Lanka’s tail-end resistance was briefly buoyed by Jeffrey Vandersay, who managed a defiant 50 from 47 balls.
Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith orchestrated the proceedings with impeccable tactical acumen, rotating his bowlers effectively and maintaining a sharp, proactive field. The collapse began early in the day when Kusal Mendis's sweep shot resulted in an easy wicket for Kuhnemann. The turning point came when Kamindu Mendis, having formed a promising partnership with Angelo Mathews, attempted an ill-advised slog, only to be dismissed in the deep.
The final wickets tumbled quickly, with Kuhnemann finishing the match by claiming the last Sri Lankan wicket just before tea.
Australia now heads into the second Test at Galle on February 6, buoyed by their historic win. With their confidence soaring, they aim to secure only their second series victory in Asia since their triumph in Sri Lanka in 2011, having only previously won a series in Pakistan in 2022.
