Sri Lanka vs Australia Live Score 1st Test, Day 2

STUMPS ON DAY 1! This was coming. The drizzle had abated but the light was fading. The umpires did come out for an inspection, but they took a look at the water on the covers and the fading light and decided to call it off. Neither team would be complaining too much given the state of play. Sri Lanka would be desperate to head to the shower and cool their bodies down and get enough rest before Day 2 commences. Australia, on the other hand, would be reasonably happy for not losing a single wicket post Lunch and will aim to build on the same, come Thursday.

'I can't find my hands!' was the comment by this player a year or so ago. He worked his way out, found them somehow, only to have a torrid opening Test against India. But then, the turnaround has come again. At the ripe age of 35, Steven Smith has reached his 35th Test hundred, 7th in the list of all-time century makers in Men's Tests. Also, Smith now has 5 hundreds as a visiting captain in the subcontinent, second only to England's Sir Alastair Cook with 6. He will be wanting to make the most of this form in this series.

It has been a combination of bad luck and lack of awareness in the field for the Lankan bowlers. Both these Tests are supposed to be a trial by spin for the batters, so it was no surprise that the Lankans went in with only one proper seamer. The new ball did create some ooohhs and aahhhs in the first session, but once it got softer and older, batting became significantly easier. In Galle, historically, spin has the worst average in the first innings and it keeps getting significantly better as the innings change. But, it was not like the chances did not come. A few chances came but they were not taken. Probably because the bodies were tired in this humid heat. And then, a few calls came which were not given by the umpire but could have been overturned had Sri Lanka taken the review. Of course, the skipper cannot be the only one to be blamed for that, hence it comes in the category of bad luck.

Time to look back at what happened through the day. Australia started like a train on fire, with Travis Head relishing his promotion to the opening spot. His quickfire 57 in a stand of 92 pushed the Lankans back and even though they got the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne fairly quickly by the opening wicket's standards, they were still reeling from that blow on the head by the 'Head'. Just kidding. While the focus was on Head, Usman Khawaja played his own game, much similar to how he played in that opening match of the 2023 Ashes. He has stuck like a glue at one end, batting beautifully on 147 while at the other end, he has got his skipper for company, who has looked solid himself on 104.

We are no forecasters, but this could be it for the day. The drizzle is not the primary concern, but the light definitely is. In the last one hour or so, it has gone dark pretty quickly and it is one thing to continue playing in fading light. It is another to start in dim light. With as many as 81 overs bowled, don't think anyone would be fussing too much but still, for the record, we have time till 11.30 AM GMT. If the drizzle does not stop or the light does not improve till then, that will be it for the day.

Ahh...well... out of nowhere, a gentle drizzle has started to fall. And in next to no time, its gentleness disappears and the umpires are taking the players off. Probably, in one of the very few occasions in cricket, both sides would be pretty happy to go off the field. As per tradition, the entire ground is in process of being covered. As of now, the drizzle is heavy but there is a good breeze blowing across too, so hopefully, this will get blown away quickly.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Short, outside off, Usman Khawaja cuts it straight to short third.

Pace time? Not yet. Nishan Peiris to continue.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Usman Khawaja, Fuller, outside off, driven straight to cover.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Steven Smith, Around off, worked through mid-wicket for a run.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Usman Khawaja, Full, around leg stump, Usman gets down to play the sweep this time but misses. The ball goes off his pads towards fine leg and the batters take the single. Dhananjaya de Silva is keen on the review, but neither the keeper nor the bowler seem interested. Probably going down the leg side. Leg bye signalled. Yes, Ball Tracking confirms that the ball is missing leg stump.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Usman Khawaja, FOUR! SLAM! And the new ball goes through the outfield also pretty quickly. Full, around leg stump, Khawaja gets down and brings down his willow in a flash, thrashing the ball with a reverse sweep through point. Deep point is in place but he cannot get there. 100 for Jayasuriya as well.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Usman Khawaja, Full, outside off, the new cherry skids on after pitching, but a watchful Usman Khawaja plays it down in front of short leg.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Steven Smith, Full, outside off, Steven Smith gets across and works it through mid-wicket for a single.

The second new ball is due now. But doubt it will be taken right now. The clock reads 4.15 pm local, that means 10.45 am GMT. Dhananjaya de Silva might want to wait for 20-odd minutes to take the second new ball. The other thing is, the light is fading constantly and don't think any seamer will be allowed to bowl in these conditions. The fourth umpire comes out to hand out the second new ball. Oh okay. Pardon us. The SECOND NEW BALL HAS BEEN TAKEN. For now, Prabath Jayasuriya is using it as Asitha Fernando might want the other end. 32-7-95-1 so far.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Slowish through the air, full in length, and on off, Usman Khawaja drives it nicely but finds the fielder at cover.

Nishan Peiris to Steven Smith, Full and on middle, Steven Smith flicks it to deep mid-wicket and jogs for another run.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Looped up around off, driven inside out through cover for a single.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, At 83 kph, too full on off, Khawaja blocks it out to the off side.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Drifting on middle, full in length, Usman is rock solid on his front foot block.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, A slip and short leg in place for Peiris! On the stumps, flat and full, blocked off.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Steven Smith, That in-drifter on middle and leg, Steven Smith is staunch on his front foot block.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Steven Smith, Tossed up nicely, full and on middle, Steven Smith watchfully eases it out to the off side.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Steven Smith, Full now, on off and middle, Smith leans on to block it straight.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Steven Smith, Good length, on off, Steven Smith stands tall and bunts it on the pitch.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Steven Smith, Short of a good length, drifting onto the pads, tucked across to square leg by Smith.

Prabath Jayasuriya to Usman Khawaja, Full and turning in from outside off, Khawaja reverse sweeps it past backward point for a single.

Well, he has found his hands, hasn't he? 101 against India at the 'Gabba. 140 against India at the MCG. And now, another century here. Third century in 4 Tests. Welcome back, Steven Smith! This is also his third Test ton against the Lankans, all in the island nation and second consecutive Test match ton in Galle!

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Full and on the middle, Usman Khawaja clips it along the ground to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.

Nishan Peiris to Steven Smith, Full at the stumps, Smith drives it down to long on for a single.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Tossed up, full at the stumps. Khawaja flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Back of a length at the stumps. Khawaja blocks off the back foot.

Nishan Peiris to Steven Smith, TEST 100 NUMBER 35 FOR STEVEN SMITH! His 3rd in Sri Lanka and 6th overall in the subcontinent! Just a single blip throughout the innings, where he was dropped by Prabath Jayasuriya, but barring that, he has been flawless and effortless. Dropped short and on off, Smith punches it to deep cover and calls for two straight away. Seeing the fielder late to mop it up, the batters cross over for the third. Smith removes his helmet, raises his bat and soaks in all the acknowledgement from his teammates and the Aussie supporters.

Nishan Peiris to Steven Smith,  Tossed up around off,  Smith plays the front foot defence.

DRINKS BREAK. Into the final hour of play then. 52/0 in 17 overs since Tea. Some can call it a snooze fest and onlookers would be trying desperately to not let their eyelids droop. But as the great Matthew Hayden always says, you can have plenty of such Test matches in the subcontinent. For a long period of time, nothing might seem to happen and then suddenly, one wicket falls and the dominos are ready. Both teams are playing with patience with Sri Lanka trying to force Australia into doing something out of their comfort zone. The Aussies, on the other hand, will do well to remember that they were 298/5 at the end of the opening day of the second Test in Galle, in 2022. And then, the floodgates opened. They would want to bat big in this dig.

Jeffrey Vandersay to Steven Smith, Back of a length and just outside off, Smith reads the wrong'un well, and eases it across to deep backward square leg for a single.

Jeffrey Vandersay to Steven Smith, Length on the stumps, Smith turns it to the leg side.

Jeffrey Vandersay to Steven Smith, FOUR! Timed to perfection! Tosses up a low full toss on middle, Steven Smith takes a good stride forward and flicks it through mid-wicket, and beats the fielder who gives a sprint from mid on. Beats Asitha Fernando to his right and races away to the boundary.

Jeffrey Vandersay to Steven Smith, Nice and full on off, blocked out watchfully.

Jeffrey Vandersay to Steven Smith, FOUR! Top shot! Not that short and not too full, it is that in-between length, on off, Steven Smith reads it quickly, gets deep inside the crease and pulls it powerfully through mid-wicket for a cracking four.

Jeffrey Vandersay to Steven Smith, A silly mid on in place. Outside off, full in length, eased out to the point region.

Just have a feeling that Asitha will have a go with the second new ball. Only that it might not be taken immediately after 79.6, Maybe, Dhananjaya de Silva might wait till the last 30 minutes of the day and then take it. Prabath Jayasuriya could be his new-ball partner.

Nishan Peiris to Steven Smith, Very full, on leg, Steven Smith shovels it out and works it down to long on and rotates the strike. This stand is now worth 169 runs off 276 deliveries.

Nishan Peiris to Steven Smith, Driftng on off, from around the stumps, Steven Smith blocks this full ball straight back to the bowler.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Flighted up, full and on the stumps, Usman Khawaja drives it inside out through cover for another solo.

Nishan Peiris to Steven Smith, Slides it across off, on a length, Steven Smith gets right behind it and nudges it to deep backward square leg for a single.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Much fuller and on off, Usman Khawaja carves it down through mid off for a single.

Nishan Peiris to Usman Khawaja, Peiris bowls it full and on the leg stump line, Usman clips it to the left of the bowler. Nishan Peiris runs to his left and stops it.

15 overs left in the day. Correction. MINIMUM of 15 overs left in the day. We can have more if light and time permit. Stumps will not be called before 11.30 AM GMT, unless light plays a part. Given that it is all spin, we should not be concerned about the fading light and can also expect more than 90 overs to be bowled. Quizzically, with the second new ball around the corner, will Dhananjaya de Silva take it?

Jeffrey Vandersay to Steven Smith, Fuller, around off, played in front of short leg.