Aussies Clinch Victory Over Sri Lanka in Second Test, Ending 19-Year Drought

On Sunday, Australia successfully chased down a modest target in Sri Lanka, clinching the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy with a 2-0 series victory. This marks the first Test series whitewash for Australia in Asia in 19 years.

Following his promotion in the batting order, Marnus Labuschagne guided a delivery from Dimuth Karunaratne to the leg side to secure a nine-wicket win on the fourth day, achieving Australia’s first clean sweep in a Test series in Asia since Ricky Ponting led a 2-0 triumph over Bangladesh in 2006.

The victory in Galle also signified Australia’s inaugural Test series win in Sri Lanka since 2011, when Michael Clarke captained the side to a 1-0 success in a three-match series.

Chasing down a target of 75, Australia lost Travis Head for 20 runs early on, but Usman Khawaja and Labuschagne steadied the ship and took the team home.

Khawaja ended the match unbeaten on 27, while Labuschagne remained not out on 26, giving the Queenslander a much-needed boost after his recent batting struggles.

Head was dismissed by off-spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, edging a cut shot to the wicketkeeper.

Earlier in the fourth day, Steve Smith achieved his 200th Test catch, making him the first Australian, excluding wicketkeepers, to reach this milestone.

Sri Lanka resumed their innings on day four at 8-211, with Kusal Mendis on 48 and Lahiru Kumara starting his innings.

Mendis arrived at his half-century with a cut shot to deep cover, but he was dismissed just two balls later. Nathan Lyon capitalised on the dry and deteriorating Galle pitch, extracting sharp bounce that led to a catch at short fine leg off Mendis’s top edge, with Smith taking the catch to mark his 200th Test dismissal.

The off-spin bowling attack also took the final wicket for Sri Lanka, as the towering Beau Webster clean bowled Kumara, who attempted a slog sweep unsuccessfully.

The Australians thought they had sealed the victory when Lyon found Kumara’s edge in the preceding over, but replays revealed the ball had bounced before reaching Webster at second slip.

If that catch had been taken, Lyon would have claimed his 25th Test five-wicket haul, but he finished instead with figures of 4-84.

Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann impressed with 4-63, showcasing his skills as a subcontinent specialist, while Webster contributed with 2-6.

The Sri Lankans had hoped for Mendis to build on his score, but the batting order faltered, managing to add just 20 runs to their overnight total.

Alex Carey was named Player of the Match in recognition of his outstanding 156, setting a new record for the highest Test score by an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia. He also showcased exceptional skills behind the stumps in the second Test, concluding the match with three catches and a stumping.

Steve Smith was awarded Player of the Series after accumulating 272 runs at an impressive average of 136, with top scores of 141 and 131. He also claimed the highest number of catches in the series with five and excelled in his role as acting captain with strategic bowling changes and field placements.