FOLLOW LIVE: Australia look to pile on more pain for Sri Lanka on day three of the first Test in Galle

The West Australian
Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Kamindu Mendis.
Mitchell Starc of Australia celebrates after taking the wicket of Kamindu Mendis. Credit: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

After declaring with a mammoth first-innings total, Australia claimed three quick wickets to put themselves in a commanding position ahead of day three against Sri Lanka.

Follow all the action in our live blog.

LIVE
Aaron Kirby

Rain!

The weather has come from nowhere and the players are off the field.

The umpires have called an early lunch with the break just 14 minutes away anyway.

Chandimal bats through the session but it’s another good one for the Aussies.

SL 5-136

Aaron Kirby

Marsh blow

As Chandimal brought up his half century there was some bad news for West Aussie Mitch Marsh.

The big all-rounder will miss the Champions Trophy, where he was every chance of being captain.

Aaron Kirby

Stumped!

Kuhnemann gets the Sri Lanka skipper!

De Silva charged the spinner and didn’t get close as the leftie speared the ball a bit wider.

It was the easiest of stumpings for Carey.

It was close to the first time de Silva had used his feet and he wanted a boundary.

He departs for 22.

SL 5-107

Aaron Kirby

Todd gets nod

Murphy is into the attack.

He bowled one over last night but comes in to give Lyon a break.

Chandimal is the man holding Australia back at the moment.

He has looked very assurred for 44, sweeping well and rotating the strike.

Smith is employing an aggressive field so if Murphy can get some turn he’s a chance.

SL 4-102

Aaron Kirby

Starc gets a rest

Kuhnemann is into the attack looking to rip the ball away from the two right-handers.

However, he was a little short in his first over and has been a bit expensive despite picking up the wicket last night.

SL 4-79

Aaron Kirby

Chandimal sore

Starc has crashed one right into Chandimal’s hip bone and he has called for the physio.

He was in pain instantly with Starc cranking the ball up around 143km/h.

SL 4-68

Aaron Kirby

The big one!

Kamundu Mendis, the man who matched Bradman to 1000 Test runs, has been strangled down the leg side for just 15!

It was not a great delivery from Starc down the leg side but Mendis followed it and tickled it to Alex Carey.

Australia will be hopeful of running through them now.

SL 4-66

Aaron Kirby

Spin and seam!

Just two overs into the day and the Aussie bowlers look like they are on a different pitch to Sri Lanka.

Lyon got spitting bounce in the first over that nearly drew two wickets while Starc is getting seam and swing away from the left-hander.

SL 3-47

Aaron Kirby

Welcome!

And we reach day three with Australia in command and looking to do big damage on moving day.

Three late wickets last night hurt the home side and if Mendis or Chandimal fall early, the game could fall apart at a rate of nots.

Comments

Latest Edition

The Nightly cover for 30-01-2025

Latest Edition

Edition Edition 30 January 202530 January 2025

Scores feared dead as passenger plane carrying 64 collides with US Army Black Hawk in DC.