Chandimal’s 13th Test century gives Sri Lanka control

Dinesh Chandimal soaks the applause for his 13th Test hundred

Kusal Mendis is trapped lbw by Nathan Lyon for 85

Angelo Mathews attempts a reverse sweep during his innings of 52

Kamindu Mendis drives on his way to a 

half-century on debut

Warne-Muralitharan trophy second Test at Galle

Dinesh Chandimal scored his 13th Test century and Kamindu Mendis made a 50 on debut as Sri Lanka for the first time in the series looked to be in control of the second Warne-Muralitharan trophy Test finishing the third day on 431-6 wickets, a lead of 67 over Australia with four first innings wickets in hand at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Chandimal held the Sri Lankan innings together forging partnerships of 83 and 133 with Angelo Mathews (52) and Kamindu Mendis (61) respectively and by stumps was unbeaten on 118 having batted for 380 minutes and faced 232 balls. He displayed the application and patience needed to build a big innings striking nine fours and a six on the Galle surface that is now beginning to gradually assist spin.

Sri Lanka trailing 1-0 in the two-Test series need a huge first innings lead if they are to put Australia under pressure, and a lot would depend on how much assistance Chandimal would get from the tailenders. Ramesh Mendis is batting with Chandimal on seven.

Compared to how easily Australia won the first Test on an atrocious turning surface, yesterday they were made to toil hard the entire day for four wickets while Sri Lanka added 247 to their overnight total of 184.

Nathan Lyon struck as early as the third over of the morning trapping Kusal Mendis lbw in front of the wicket for 85. Mendis had a close call off the fifth ball of the day for an lbw appeal off Lyon, but did not survive the second appeal off Lyon’s next over and was dismissed adding just one run to his overnight score. He batted 161 balls and hit nine fours.

Chandimal was off the mark with a four and a six off successive balls from Lyon, and was lucky to be there at the close having survived a caught behind chance off Mitchell Starc at 30 which umpire Kumar Dharmasena negatived. Replays however showed a spike as the ball went past his bat. Australia had only themselves to blame for it. By that time, they had burnt all their reviews and with none left they were at the mercy of the umpire.

Chandimal brought up his half-century off 103 balls (5 fours, 1 six) and his 13th Test hundred, his second against Australia and fourth at Galle off 195 balls (8 fours, 1 six).

In an afternoon session cut short by 26 minutes due to rain that brought forward the tea break, Mathews’ wicket was the only success Australia had when he was caught at forward short leg trying to flick Starc off his legs and was dismissed for 52 (117 balls, 4 fours) ending a stand of 83 with Chandimal.

Newcomer Kamindu Mendis hardly showed any nerves when he walked in and with Chandimal stitched together a productive partnership of 133 for the fifth wicket that took Sri Lanka past the Australian total of 364.      

Australia were chaotic on the field as Carey missed an easy stumping off Kamindu at 43 off Lyons. Both Chandimal and Kamindu made full use of their luck to contribute immensely towards Sri Lanka’s total.   

Kamindu gives the impression of a player who is full of confidence when he comes out to bat. He is calm and assured in his stroke-play and he is in no hurry to score but treats the ball on its merit. With a first-class batting average of 61 and six centuries from 23 matches behind him it was no surprise that he made a 50 on his debut innings. The 61 he scored off 137 balls comprised seven fours.

“I had a bit of pressure making my debut. But once I walked into the middle, I couldn’t feel the pressure. The Aussies have a very good attack and I wanted to enjoy the game as much as possible and those things benefited in helping to get my half-century,” said Kamindu at the end of the day.

“The main thing was putting up a partnership with Chandi and we did that. I am glad I was able to score a half-century today. We had to work hard to get ahead of Australia and we did well. I thought Australia bowled really well. Loose balls were rare. I had good support from Chandi. The main idea was to rotate the strike and pick up singles. Then we started picking up boundaries.” Australia picked up Kamindu’s and Niroshan Dickwella’s wicket in the final session, but in fact it was Sri Lanka’s day after making an impressive comeback following their pathetic batting display in the first Test. This is the fifth instance for Sri Lanka where five batsmen have made a score of more than 50 in an innings.

Lyon the destroyer of Sri Lanka in the first Test was edging towards an unusual record for the most overs bowled by an individual in an innings at Galle which is 62 by Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath. Lyon ended the day with 2 for 160 off 56 overs and if Sri Lanka’s tail stretches, he could easily go past that record.    

For Australia who trail by 67 runs the game is not quite over as yet. “We are well and truly in this game. I think anything south of a 100-run lead or around that gives us a real opportunity. That is probably the reward for batting first. We just have to nullify what that lead is,” said Australian head coach Andrew McDonald. 

“I thought the way Chandimal, Kamindu and Angelo Mathews went about their work today, the way they applied themselves on a flat surface is what you think of international standards of batting. Full credit, especially to Chandimal, that hundred was a really fantastic innings.”

“The game is really even at the turn, at the moment we’re behind, that’s our problem, we have to work through that. And tomorrow presents another opportunity in the morning session to get that No. 8 batter in Mendis. We believe they do have a longish tail, so then Chandimal has to manage that. We have to deny him the opportunity to face balls tomorrow and keep that lead to about 100 and we’re well and truly in this game.”