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Pretty self explanatory to understand what the scorecard says. 44/3 plays 654/6. The only team which looks to be winning from here is Australia, so that means, only two results seem the most likely from here on. But this is just the first innings and the visitors will need 17 more wickets to win the match. Both, Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis have got a life early on, with Chandimal being dropped by substitute Nathan McSweeney on 5, while Kamindu Mendis gloved one down the leg side to Alex Carey on 1, but no one appealed. UltraEdge later detected a nick. If the Lankans can do what the Aussies did - just bat and bat and grind the opposition out, they could force the visitors to sweat it out in the heat and get tired. Play is scheduled to start even earlier, on Day 3, Friday, 31st January, 2025, at 4.10 pm GMT but our build up will begin well before that. Do join us in advance then. In the meanwhile, you can catch all the action from the Women's Ashes and the semifinals of the Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup by clicking on the respective matchcentres. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Earlier, Australia produced a superior batting display on a track which looked a batting beauty. There was some turn on offer but not much to disturb the batters. Three centurions stole the show, in Usman Khawaja, captain Steven Smith and debutant Josh Inglis ​​​​​​while Travis Head will be mentioned somewhere for providing the blistering start and pushing Sri Lanka on the back foot in the first hour of the match itself. Khawaja went on to get his maiden double ton in Tests and that saw the Aussies pile on their highest score in an inning of a Test in Asia - 654/6. En route, Inglis became the first batter from Australia in 10 years to score a century in his debut Test. The Lankans looked down and out for most part of the innings but will still take heart from the fact that Prabath Jayasuriya and Jeffrey Vandersay took 3 wickets apiece.

With around 23 overs left in the day's play, Sri Lanka started positively with the bat, but then, technical deficiencies saw the two openers getting dismissed pretty quickly. Mitchell Starc did not find much swing but he got bounce, which got rid of Dimuth Karunaratne, though the former skipper could have avoided that shot. There is plenty of turn for the spinners, exploited by both Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon. And one main difference between Sri Lanka and Australia thus far - FIELDING - has already come to the fore, in the form of the sharp catch taken by Travis Head at short leg to get rid of Angelo Mathews.

There comes the confirmation. It is indeed STUMPS ON DAY 2. 6 sessions on the trot in Australia's favour. After declaration, they would have hoped to get a wicket or two before the close of play, but the wicket of Angelo Mathews was a bonus. 4 bowlers have been used and the first 3 who bowled have struck once. The Lankans have their backs to the wall with plenty of time left in this Test match.

Josh Inglis is doing an interview on the sidelines. Honestly says that the century on Test debut has not yet sunk in and is happy with how the day shaped up for Australia. Smiles on being asked about the feeling to start the innings with a boundary but stresses that since he has been with the group for quite a while, there was no nervousness. Feels thrilled to have his family watch him play at the venue and adds that this moment will be cherished for the rest of his life.

Well, a gentle drizzle is falling at the moment. But the umpires are okay for play to carry on. In fact, the drizzle has gotten heavier and the umpires have called for the covers. The groundstaff get the covers on and it looks highly unlikely that we will get any more play on Thursday.

Around off, pushed to the off side.

Ohhh... Murphy and Smith will smile. Unnecessary from Chandimal. It is okay to play your natural game but with 15 minutes left in the day? Debatable. Flighted, outside off, Dinesh has a wild slog and gets it off the inner half of the bat towards short fine leg.

Quicker again, outside off, DC lunges and smothers the spin.

A bit flatter and quicker, outside off, Dinesh lunges and drives it towards mid off.

Very slow through the air, fuller on middle, Chandimal defends.

Good start for Murphy. Comes from around the wicket and angles the ball in, onto middle, Dinesh Chandimal nudges it towards short fine leg.

We are already into extended time. Roughly 15 minutes left in the day. But 10 overs still to be bowled, which means we will be 4-5 overs short. Todd Murphy gets a look in, in the final moments of the day. The understudy of Nathan Lyon, an off spinner.

The arm ball, skids off the deck from outside off, Kamindu Mendis nudges it towards short fine leg.

Better, slows the speed down, does Lyon, on middle, KM blocks it in front of silly point.

This is outside off, again, a bit too quick through the air, Kamindu pushes it through gully but it is stopped.

A bit too quicker through the air, tossing the ball up on middle, spinning away, Mendis defends watchfully.

Full, around middle, Kamindu Mendis lunges and defends it in front of silly point.