Sri Lanka’s Chandimal wages lone battle as Australia tighten grip on Galle Test

Dinesh Chandimal’s unbeaten half-century and persistent rain in Galle delayed Australia’s push for victory in the opening Test against Sri Lanka on Friday.

Only a 27-over session was possible on day three with Sri Lanka losing two wickets and slumping to 136-5 before rain stopped play.

Chandimal was batting on 63 with Kusal Mendis on 10 at the other end.

Sri Lanka are still 518 runs behind and will need a Herculean effort to avoid the follow-on even though more rain is forecast for Saturday.

Australia seized control of the contest after declaring their first innings on a mammoth 654-6 and made a couple of inroads when play resumed on Friday.

Kamindu Mendis (15) fell to a wayward delivery from Mitchell Starc, which the batter tickled down the leg side to be caught behind.

Dhananjaya de Silva (22) also threw away his wicket as the Sri Lanka captain came dancing down the track against left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann only to miss the ball.

Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey had all the time in the world to collect the ball and whip off the bails.

Chandimal hit Nathan Lyon for three fours in an over and has looked comfortable.

Australia declared on 654-6 late on the second day after opener Usman Khawaja’s career-best 232.

The opening day saw stand-in skipper Steve Smith join the elite club of 10,000 career Test run-makers, the fifteenth player and fourth Australian to reach the milestone.

Picturesque Galle will also host the second and final match of the series next week before a two-match ODI series in Colombo.

Marsh ruled out of Champions Trophy: Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE, starting from February 19, due to ongoing lower “back pain and dysfunction”.

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal leave the ground as rain interrupts the play during day three of the first Test match. AP

“The National Selection Panel and Australian men’s medical team ruled Marsh out of the tournament with the injury which has not responded sufficiently to rehabilitation,” Cricket Australia said on Friday.

His lower back pain flared in recent weeks leading the NSP to make the longer term decision for Marsh to complete a more extended period of rehabilitation.

CA said Marsh will now undergo a period of further rest and rehabilitation as part of his return to play plan.

The NSP will meet to decide on a replacement for Marsh in due course.

Marsh, who lost his place in Australia’s Test line-up before the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against India, has not played since a solitary BBL appearance for Perth Scorchers earlier this month.

The deadline for the final squads for the ICC Men’s Champion’s Trophy is prior to February 12.

With regular skipper in ODI and Test Pat Cummins sidelined due to an ankle injury and family commitments, Marsh was expected to lead Australia in the Champions Trophy.

With uncertainty over Cummins participation in the Champions Trophy, Steve Smith, currently leading the Test team, could take over as ODI captain, given Marsh’s appointment as captain of the T20I team.

Australia will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England on February 22 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Agencies