Australia secured a dominant victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the series, winning by an innings and 242 runs. This marks Australia’s fourth-largest innings victory in Test history.
Their biggest innings win came against South Africa, when they triumphed by an innings and 360 runs in Johannesburg in 2002. Their next two biggest wins were in 1946 against England (innings and 332 runs) and in 1950 against South Africa (innings and 242 runs).
For Sri Lanka, today’s defeat sets an embarrassing record. This is their largest defeat by an innings margin in Test history. Previously, their biggest loss in this format was against India in Nagpur in 2017, where they were defeated by an innings and 239 runs.
Sri Lanka resumed their second innings on Saturday in Galle at 136/5 on Day 4. However, they could only add 111 more runs before being bowled out for 247 in the first session. Jeffrey Vandersay top-scored with 53, while Angelo Mathews contributed 41.
Earlier, Australia had declared their first innings at 654/6. Usman Khawaja registered his maiden Test double century (232), while stand-in captain Steve Smith (141) and Josh Inglis (102) also scored centuries. In response, Sri Lanka managed only 165 in their first innings, forcing them to follow on. Their batting struggles continued in the second innings as well.
Scores:
Australia (1st innings): 654/6 dec. (Khawaja 232, Smith 141, Inglis 102; Jayasuriya 3/193, Vandersay 3/182)
Sri Lanka (1st innings): 165 all out (Chandimal 72; Kuhnemann 5/63, Lyon 3/57)
Sri Lanka (2nd innings – Follow-on): 247 all out (Vandersay 53; Kuhnemann 4/86, Lyon 4/78)
Result: Australia won by an innings and 242 runs
Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja (Australia)
