Published: Jul 31, 2016, 08:45 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 31, 2016, 08:45 AM (IST)
Sri Lanka registered an impressive victory over Australia in the first Test that concluded on Saturday at Pallekele. Before the start of the match, not many had given the host team a chance against a strong Australian side, particularly after losing badly against England in the previous series. But the Lankan side defied all odds and scripted an emphatic win.
More than the victory, the fact that Sri Lanka found new heroes from the match comforted the hosts. Apart from seasoned campaigner Rangana Herath, the two important pillars of this victory were Kusal Mendis, whose 176 in the second innings proved to be the difference, and debutant Chinaman Lakshan Sandakan, who finished the game with seven wickets. ALSO READ: Best bowling figures by a chinaman on debut & 15 other statistical highlights from Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test.
The young bowler ended first innings with figures of 4 for 58 and played a perfect second foil to Herath. In the all-important second innings, Sandakan scalped three crucial wickets, out of which the Joe Burns-dismissal stands apart. He bowled one outside the off stump, giving it a nice flight. Burns wanted to make room and play a cut shot, but had no idea, simply no idea that it will turn a mile. The ball came in sharply and Burns chopped it on to the stumps.
The dismissal sent ripples among the Australian players, who succumbed to Lankan spin duo and were bundled out for 161 in the final innings, thus losing the match by 106 runs. The delivery, that proved Sandakan is here to stay, can be seen here:
