Chandimal, Jayasuriya heroics help Sri Lanka to historic win over Australia

Rex Clementine in Galle

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took the fourth best figures in the history of Test match cricket by a debutant while Dinesh Chandimal smashed a maiden double hundred as Sri Lanka completed a historic Test win over Australia with a day to spare at the Galle International Stadium yesterday.

Australia were bowled out for 151 in their second innings to hand Sri Lanka an innings and 39 run win inside four days. It was their first innings win over Australia in the history.

Jayasuriya, a late replacement after the team was hit by several COVID cases, bowled with impeccable accuracy to have Australia in a spin as he finished with six for 59 to back up his first innings performance of six for 118. He claimed a match bag of 12 for 177, the best bowling performance by a Sri Lankan on debut.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Sri Lanka, who had been thrashed by ten wickets in the first Test.

Former captain Chandimal put Sri Lanka in a winnings position with a stunning counterattack to post his career best score. Chandimal, who resumed the day on 118 finished unbeaten on 206 becoming the first Sri Lankan to post a double hundred against Australia. He batted for more than nine hours and faced 326 deliveries hitting 16 fours and five sixes to record his career best score.

When Sri Lanka’s ninth wicket fell, Chandimal was 159 not out and it didn’t look that he would get to a double hundred but then he took the opposition by surprise striking the ball cleanly sending it out of the ground on three occasions.

The right-hander hit two consecutive sixes off Mitchell Starc to complete his double hundred and was named Player of the Series.

Sri Lanka’s total of 554 all out is their highest against Australia in the history improving on the 541 for eight declared in Colombo in 1992.

Chandimal was involved in several partnerships that turned the game in Sri Lanka’s favour. The hosts lead was only 67 when the day began but the lower order ensured that the team batted only once on a wicket that was deteriorating fast.

The seventh wicket stand between Chandimal and Ramesh Mendis was worth 68 runs while the last wicket Partnership between Chandimal and Kasun Rajitha produced 49 runs for which the last man made no contribution and he was dismissed without scoring.

Chandimal smashed 48 runs off just 18 balls during that partnership and Australia simply had no answers.