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Day 2, Report: Steven Smith, Shaun Marsh fifties steers Australia to 141/1 at stumps

Sri Lanka were bowled out for 355 against Australia on Day Two of Third Test on Sunday with help of Mitchell Starc's fifer for the third time in this series.

Steven Smith became fastest to reach 4,000 Test runs on Day 2 © AFP
Steven Smith became fastest to reach 4,000 Test runs on Day 2 © AFP

Australia skipper Steven Smith and opening batsman Shaun Marsh fifties kept their side alive against Sri Lanka as they ended Day Two at  for 1 at stumps in Third Test at Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Sunday. Smith and Shaun’s 100-run stand for second wicket ended the day in Australia’s favour. Dhananjaya de Silva drew first blood before heading for Tea and kept the hopes alive for Sri Lanka to continue their command in the game. But the game tilted as soon as Smith took charge. Both Marsh and Smith’s built the highest partnership in this series by Australian players and trailed by  runs. Shaun was called in as replacement for opening batsman Usman Khawaja. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 3rd Test at Colombo

Smith came and started off with a bang as he became the fastest cricketer to reach the 4,000-run mark after Kane Williamson and Joe Root. Williamson achieved the 4,000 run mark in 80 deliveries while Root achieved the same in 84. Smith now enters the list achieving the same in 89 deliveries. India Test skipper Virat Kohli is also in contention and requires another 755 runs to reach this milestone. Sri Lanka leaked out oo many runs after the first wicket. Rangana Herath was back on the field after his injury, but went wicketless. Dilruwan Perera, who shone with 10 wickets in total this series, conceded 41 runs. Perera tried his bit, trying his luck with veracious appeal, in turn it reversed and pitched just outside leg, keeping Shaun in the game. Shaun got lucky for the second time as he was dropped by de Silva at 59. At the end of Day Two, Smith and Shaun ended their play at  and  respectively.

Earlier, Chandimal’s century kept Sri Lanka in command until Lunch. He scored his seventh century of his Test career and his first against Australia. Mitchell Starc once again proved to be the effective weapon and claimed his third-wicket haul of the series, but Sri Lanka went beyond 350-run mark despite being bowled out. Australia already lost David Warner in seven overs they faced after de Silva picked him and an under-edge caught behind, left Australia in shock. The innings that began with a six ended the Tea session with a wicket. Herath was struck with groin and was sent off the field for treatment before Tea. TEA REPORT: Day 2, Tea Report: Australia stumble at 27/1

But this day largely belonged to Chandimal, who approached his innings with great patience right since he arrived at the crease at 24 for 4 on the first morning. His seventh century came from 284 deliveries. He was unfortunately caught behind by Peter Nevill providing Starc his fourth wicket. No Australian has lasted 356 deliveries, but Chandimal survived it all. Chandimal and de Silva carried their form in the morning putting highest sixth-wicket partnership in Test history. He moved to 129 before he was nabbed by Lyon and providing him the third wicket in this Test. Australians failed to grab the opportunities provided by Chandimal after he completed his century, when Smith dropped him twice on Jon Holland’s delivery.

Chandimal built his partnership with the tail-enders and capitalised on them as he built highest eighth-wicket partnership with Herath of 73 runs that made them the only Sri Lankan players to achieve this feat against Australia anywhere. After being struck by Hazlewood, Herath was retired hurt for 33, allowing Suranga Lakmal to enter. His stay could not continue longer as he caught at the gully and provided Starc his fifer for 63. Herath was kept away as he was unable to continue the innings.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 355 (Dinesh Chandimal 132, Dhananjaya de Silva 129; Mitchell Starc 5 for 63, Nathan Lyon 3 for 110) trail Australia 141 for 1 (David Warner 11, Shaun Marsh 64*, Steven Smith 61*; Dhananjaya de Silva 1 for 20) by 214 runs

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LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 3rd Test at Colombo

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