Australia defeated Sri Lanka by a decisive margin of an innings and 242 runs in the first of the two Test matches between the two countries. With one day and one session remaining, the game came to a close, with the visitors completely controlling the Galle International Stadium.
When only 27 overs were bowled on the previous day of the game, the forecast for the fourth day was different. After starting the day with a 518-run deficit to Australia, Matthew Kuhnemann’s wicket of Kusal Mendis was the first breakthrough of the day. After Sri Lanka was shot out for 165, there was a stunning collapse as one wicket led to another’s loss.
It goes without saying that Australia enforced the follow-on. For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, the Lankan openers were defeated by single-figure scores. In what should have been the final over before lunch, Dinesh Chandimal, the top scorer of the first innings, and Angelo Mathews added 69 runs for the third wicket before the former gloved one to Travis Head, a close-in fielder, under the lid on the on-side.
The dismissal of Mathews on the opening ball of Sri Lanka’s 25th over was essentially the final straw for the hosts, despite Nathan Lyon’s lack of his customary ability to bowl tight lines. In the centre, Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva appeared to be quite stable. However, their team was down seven wickets when both of them threw away their wickets in consecutive overs.
To add some entertainment at the finish, legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who was playing in just his second Test, produced an aggressive knock and farmed the strike from the rest of the tail. After reaching his first half-century in the 55th over of the innings, he was dismissed a delivery later to end the match. It was clear that the opposition on exhibit would never be sufficient.
At the same location, the series’ second Test match is set to start on Thursday, February 6. Sri Lanka would be eager to recover and draw even, and would hope for a better performance in that match. This was the island nation’s largest Test loss to date, which is noteworthy.
Check out how X reacted to Day 4 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia-
Dimuth Karunaratne, it’s time to retire from Test cricket and fully dedicate yourself to your modeling career.
Enough man!@IamDimuth #SLvsAUS— Muhammadh Nazeem
(@nazee_marz) February 1, 2025
Australian cricket teams in sync, wickets within a minute of each other #Ashes #SLvsAUS pic.twitter.com/ckOI3HCOQJ
— Lisa Potts (@leaseM_87) February 1, 2025
and well done fellas!
#SLvsAUS pic.twitter.com/ro1wGvI5aR
— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) February 1, 2025
An absolute road it was that’s why we won by an innings & 242 runs, anyways
We’ll take it#SLvsAUS pic.twitter.com/4TqzT9KhAR
— Kakarot (@sa___heem) February 1, 2025
Australia beat Sri Lanka by an innings & 242 runs!!
– Biggest defeat ever for Sri Lanka
– 4th biggest win for Australia
* Innings margin #SLvsAUS #Cricket pic.twitter.com/rn6dffsVc7— Farhan Nisar (@farhanwrites) February 1, 2025
Most wins for an Aussie captain in Asia in red Ball cricket
Ricky Ponting -5
Steve Smith-4*
Steve Waugh -4
Richie Benaud- 4One more win and we are at the top #AUSvsSL https://t.co/eRkLkZajuK
— paRaY_YasiR
(@ParayYasir2) February 1, 2025
Most runs in winning cause in Test cricket history!
Steve Smith -6023 |avg 64.74
Sachin Tendulkar -5949 |avg 61.93The greatest match winner in Test cricket
in this generation!#AUSvSRI #SLvsAUS #wtc2025 https://t.co/gyRUEnIJTg pic.twitter.com/VwYKciTjGo
— paRaY_YasiR
Congratulations to Usman Khawaja who won man of the match and takes home a set of Sri Lankan Solar Panels. #SLvsAUS pic.twitter.com/fTgIq6cFd9
— Tom Haylock (@thaylock) February 1, 2025
India
