Dinesh Chandimal Shines Amidst Sri Lanka's Struggle
Dinesh Chandimal's 32nd Test fifty helps Sri LankaReach 144/5 at tea, despite Australia's bowlers taking four wickets in the second session, with Nathan Lyon taking 3-47.
Sri Lanka's batting lineup struggled on the first day of the second Test against Australia, slumping to 144/5 at tea, despite a resilient 70* from Dinesh Chandimal, who hit his 32nd Test fifty.
Australia's bowlers, particularly Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc, proved to be a challenge for the Sri Lankan batsmen, with Lyon taking 3-47 and Starc finding reverse swing. The hosts made three changes to their team, but were unable to counter the Australian bowling attack, losing 4 wickets for 34 runs. Travis Head and Matthew Kuhnemann also picked up crucial wickets, as Sri Lanka's solid start was undone in the second session.
Dinesh Chandimal's innings was a highlight for Sri Lanka, as he added a 70-run stand with Dimuth Karunaratne before the latter's dismissal. Chandimal's 74 came from 163 balls, with 6 fours and 1 six, and marked his third fifty against Australia. He is now closing in on 3000 Test runs at home and has 12,177 runs at an average of 48-plus in First-Class cricket.
The Australian team, led by stand-in captain Steven Smith, made effective use of their resources, with the bowlers bowling in tandem to restrict the Sri Lankan batsmen. The match is being played at the Galle International Stadium, where Sri Lanka will look to recover from their struggling start and post a competitive total.
As the match progresses, Sri Lanka will rely on Dinesh Chandimal to continue his good form and help his team post a respectable total. The Australian bowlers, on the other hand, will look to continue their dominance and restrict Sri Lanka to a low score, giving their team a strong chance of taking the lead in the match.
