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Cricket News: SL vs AUS 2nd Test stats: Australia’s first ever innings loss to Sri Lanka | SL vs AUS 2nd Test stats highlights
11 days after an embarrassing defeat where they were dismantled in 22.5 overs, Sri Lanka completed the most remarkable of turnarounds at the same venue against the very same opposition.
Dinesh Chandimal (206*) and Prabath Jayasuriya (12 wickets) were the chief destroyers among others, as Sri Lanka sealed a thumping win by an innings and 39 runs. Dimuth Karunaratne’s team played perfect Test cricket from day one onwards, keeping Australia to under 400 and then grinding down their attack for a mammoth 181 overs. By the time Australia came to bat, they were well and truly out of steam.
In the end, Australia’s tour was a promising one from a Sri Lankan perspective. The home side won the ODI series 3-2 and drew the Tests 1-1 after defeat in the T20I series.
SL vs AUS 2nd Test stats highlights: New records set in Galle
Cricket is home to some great stories and statistics. This Test was no different. Here are some of the best stats highlights from the second Test.
Australia’s first ever loss by an innings against Sri Lanka
With Sri Lanka experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak in their camp after a heavy defeat in the first Test, not many could have expected such a resounding defeat for Australia in the second Test. In fact, this defeat is Australia’s first ever innings loss against Sri Lanka, and just their fifth loss in 33 matches against the island nation.
Australia’s first innings defeat after making 350+
It gets worse for Australia. This is the first time in history that they have lost by an innings after racking up at least 350 in the first innings. It was all looking rosy with Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith taking Australia to 204/2 on the first day, but things began to go pear-shaped from there.
12/177: Best match figures on debut for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has been home to some of the greatest spinners to ever play the game. However, none have had a debut as fruitful as Prabath Jayasuriya, with the left-arm spinner taking a record 12/177 in the match.
No Sri Lankan spinner has ever taken as many scalps on debut, with the previous best being Praveen Jayawickrama with his 11/178 against Bangladesh in Pallekele in 2021. Jayasuriya was magnificent, making full use of what the conditions had to offer.
Pat Cummins’ first loss as Test captain
Pat Cummins has tasted defeat as Test captain for the first time. He was unbeaten in his first eight Tests as skipper, including three wins against England, a morale-boosting 1-0 series win in Pakistan and a thumping 10-wicket victory in the first Test at Galle.
206*: Highest ever score by a Sri Lankan against Australia
Never before had a Sri Lankan scored a double century against Australia. Dinesh Chandimal became the first, driving the Aussie attack into the ground with his brilliant 206*. In the process, he went past 1,100 Test runs at Galle at a superb average of 50.36.
Kumar Sangakkara held the previous best score by a Sri Lankan against Australia. The great batsman struck a masterful 192 in Hobart in 2007, before a poor umpiring decision cost him the chance to reach a double hundred.
64: Most overs bowled by Nathan Lyon in an innings
Nathan Lyon has sent down plenty of overs in his career, but none more so than in Australia’s bowling innings in this Test. The off-spinner bowled a whopping 64 overs in Sri Lanka’s first innings, which is only the third time an Australian bowler bowled more than 60 overs in a single innings since 1981. The other two were Steve O’Keefe (77 vs India, Ranchi, 2017) and the late, great Shane Warne (70 vs South Africa, Cape Town, 2002).
In the end, the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy was shared. Sri Lanka will now gear up to play a two-match Test series against Pakistan that begins later this week in Galle. For Australia, their next assignment will be a three-match ODI series at home to Zimbabwe that will kick off a huge home season.
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