Sri Lanka vs Australia 3rd Test Match at SSC, Colombo, Aug 13 - Aug 17, 2016, Cricket Highlights.

Sri Lanka vs Australia 3rd Test Match at SSC, Colombo, Aug 13 - Aug 17, 2016, Cricket Highlights.
3_x264 by powerfactory

From 26-5 to 214-5, that’s what the Sri Lankan scorecard looked like at the end of the first day of this 3rd and final Test. The openers failed once again and so did the middle order. 0, 7, 16, 1, 1… these were the scores of the top five batsmen, which indicates that none of them was able to tackle the pace of Mitchell Starc or the turn of Nathan Lyon.

The Australian duo hunted in pair as they accounted for the five wickets that fell in the morning session. The scenario was pretty similar to the 1st innings of the first Test, where the hosts were bowled out for a paltry total of 117. Dhananjaya de Silva joined Dinesh Chandimal out in the middle and they had to shoulder the responsibility of getting their team out of the jail and avoid such a calamity to take place.
It was indeed an ardent task for them against bowlers like Starc and Lyon, as they bowled nagging line and lengths to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen. However, the duo stood their ground firm and managed to get through the tricky little period before the Lunch break.

The afternoon session completely belonged to the hosts as they were able to score 86 runs without losing any wicket – it was also the first time in this series that a wicket didn’t fall in a session. The momentum was now shifted in the favour of the Lankans as the pair brought up the 100-run partnership between them and snitched the initiative from Australia’s grasp.

Dhananajaya de Silva, who was just playing his 3rd Test match, showed good technique with the bat and batted like an experienced customer. The maturity at which the youngster took his innings forward was pleasing to see from a Sri Lankan fan’s perspective. To his credit, he had Chandimal batting at the opposite end, who guided him throughout his innings like a senior pro. Soon, the batsman was able to achieve his maiden Test hundred and he got there in style by smashing a boundary off Steve Smith.