that's it. SL win just their second Test against Australia. Herath gets five. SL are overjoyed but Herath puts his hands up in calm exhilaration. Pitches this on leg and the ball skids on with the arm, beats SOK's flick as he plays across and the ball clips leg stump. What a splendid fightback from Sri Lanka this has been.
Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test at Kandy, Jul 26 2016 - Match Result
3.25pm Right then, that ends a terrific Test match to start this series. Been a pleasure from all of us here. Thanks for all your comments and time. Our coverage won't stop with this. For now, here's Brydon Coverdale's report on Test 1 of this series. Until next time, bye.
3.00pm Rangana Herath leads his team off the field. Splendid Test for Sri Lanka. They slumped to 117 in the first innings but have found a way to come back and beat the No. 1 Test nation in the world. The players shake hands as Sri Lanka take a 1-0 lead in this series. Steven Smith suffers his first loss as Australia's Test captain. Scenes of utter joy in Pallekele under cloudy skies. A staunch period of resistance from Nevill and O'Keefe but SL's spinners remained patient, bowled tight lines and finally found a way to bowl Australia out. Not many would have given SL a chance after they collapsed for 117 on the first day, but sublime performances from 21-year-old Kusal Mendis and 38-year-old Rangana Herath have given Sri Lanka the win they would have yearned for. Who deserves the Man of the Match more? I really don't know. Presentation soon.
Time for the presentation.
Kusal Mendis is the Man of the Match
Steven Smith: "Tough week, credit to SL the way they played this week. We let ourselves down with the bat, we weren't disciplined with the bat. Credit to Kusal, 176 turned the game. Tough to come back from there. (Would have been) nice to have a bigger lead than that. 20 on this wicket was always going to be tough. Wicket was pining quite a bit, tough to lose O'keefe but that's cricket. We have got to find our plans and find ways to play in these conditions. 1-0 down in a three-match series so have to turn it around quickly.
Angelo Mathews: "Don't have words to explain after a very hard few months. We regrouped, trained really well and prepared to the best. Brilliant effort by the whole team. Credit to Australians, they bowled really well. Not a good effort by our batters in the first innings. We needed that 200-plus lead. Special knock by a special young player. Fantastic effort. The old man Herath was brilliant once again. Sandakan a brilliant find for us. We knew this was going to take our turn, Sandakan responded brilliantly. I'm not trying to think about captaincy and the pressure too much."
Sid: "The injection of youth into this Sri Lankan side has made all the difference. They're still raw, but my word, this tiny island has no dearth of talent. Mendis played the innings of the year, in my opinion, and Sandakan and Dhananjaya showed flashes of brilliance, which augurs well for the future. Tremendous team effort. "
dropped. Very hard chance. Flat on off, the ball hits the pad first and then onto the bat or glove and the ball flies to silly point who has almost no chance, gets a hand on it
angled wider and slower outside off, Hazlewood leaves
flight outside off, blocked
pushed to mid-on
overly full on off, Hazlewood's large stride forward completely smothers the ball
flight on off, blocked
tossed up outside off, left alone
I don't see a weather interruption before tea. So SL will have at least 30 minutes to get this last wicket
flat outside off, the ball spins a touch but SOK defends capably
steps out to drive the ball back
Uwaisul Karnain: "Hats off for Dinesh Chandimal for his reaction after taking that catch as he made sure everyone in the ground knows that was a nick!"
overpitched on off, driven back
and again, nudged past short leg after running to the pitch. No run
tossed up on middle and leg, clipped to midwicket after getting to the pitch
flat delivery on middle and leg, SOK smothers to midwicket
flatter delivery outside off, skids on with the arm and Hazlewood leaves. Smiles in SL's camp suddenly
Hazlewood is Australia's last man. A slip, gully, silly point, leg slip, leg gully, short leg and a second leg gully
gets the wicket this time. Nevill goes. Short and wide outside off, skids on with the arm. The new ball is responsible for the ball not turning. Bizzare shot. Nevill opts to cut and gets a thin outside edge on that which is snaffled up by the keeper. The SL players go wild. Big wicket. DdS' first Test wicket too.
tossed up on middle and leg, nudged to midwicket
Ajatshatru Pand: "If Australia pulls off a draw here this would probably go down as the greatest heartbreak in Sri Lankan Test Cricket history. "
overly full on off, defended
slow but flat down leg, off the pad. Padded away past leg gully
1W | ||||
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1W | 1W | |||
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Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | |
Toss | Sri Lanka, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2016 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | Sri Lanka led the 3-match series 1-0 |
Match number | Test no. 2209 |
Hours of play (local time) | 10am start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00 |
Match days | 26,27,28,29,30 July 2016 - day (5-day match) |
Test debut | |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |