Cameron Green (48*) and Alex Carey (43*) shared an unbeaten stand of 76 for the sixth wicket to help Australia gain vital first innings lead at Tea on Day 2 of the opening Test versus Sri Lanka in Galle. Australia were 233/5, in front at 21 at the break.
Usman Khawaja (71) and Travis Head resumed Australia's innings after the first session was washed out. However, Australia had an early setback when Head eked out a leading back to Dhananjaya de Silva. Despite losing Head early, Australia continued to play with freedom. Khawaja, who reached his fifty with a single off Dhananjaya, cracked the sweep off Ramesh Mendis to get himself into the groove. His batting partner, Green, had a few anxious moments while attempting the sweep, but persisted with the shot and reaped the reward when he swept Lasith Embldeniya past square leg for a four. With Sri Lanka in need of a wicket, Jeffrey Vandersay bagged his maiden Test scalp when he induced Khawaja to edge one towards forward short leg where Pathum Nissanka pouched a sharp catch.
Carey, who joined hands with Head, then took the mantle of being the aggressor, cracking sweeps, reverse sweeps and the drive to put the pressure back on Sri Lanka. At the other end, Green rotated the strike as Australia went past Sri Lanka's first innings score. The track is offering appreciable turn and Australia would hope to get a substantial first innings lead.
