Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne left the field of his last Test match to a standing ovation by the Australians in the 3rd day of the 2nd Test. The Lankan player, who was also playing his 100th Test match, scored just 14 runs in the second innings before he nicked one behind to wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Matthew Kuhnemann.
Before walking off, he shook hands with Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith and shared a hug with long time batting partner Dinesh Chandimal even as the Aussie players stopped celebrating and applauded him. The Sri Lankan batter scored 7222 runs in 100 Tests at an average of 39.25 with 16 centuries and 39 fifties with a high score of 244 runs.
On Thursday, Karunaratne became the seventh Sri Lanka cricketer to reach the 100-Test milestone after current head coach Sanath Jayasuriya (110), Muttiah Muralidaran (132), Chaminda Vaas (111), Kumar Sangakkara (134), Mahela Jayawardena (149), and Angelo Mathews (117).
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Karunaratne’s 16 Test tons are the joint-fourth for Sri Lanka alongside Marvan Atapattu, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Chandimal and Mathews. Only Sangakkara (38), Jayawardena (34) and Arjun Ranatunga (20) have accorded more centuries in the format.
Earlier in the day, Australia were edging towards a 2-0 series sweep over Sri Lanka after Alex Carey’s breathtaking century moved the visitors into a formidable position in the second test.
On Day 3, the visitors racked up an imposing 414 before being bowled out just before lunch, securing a first-innings lead of 157 runs.
Sri Lanka lost the first test by an innings and 242 runs, also in Galle — Sri Lanka’s worst defeat in test cricket
Carey was in scintillating touch, showcasing his mastery of the sweep shot to counter Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack. As the hosts attempted to stifle the scoring by crowding the leg-side, Carey responded with audacious reverse sweeps, keeping the bowlers on the back foot.
In the process, the Australian wicketkeeper carved out a career-best 156, the highest score by an Australian glove man in Asia, eclipsing Adam Gilchrist’s 144.
Steve Smith, too, made his presence felt with a well-compiled 131 — his second century of the series. However, unlike Carey’s assured stroke play, Smith had a few nervous moments early on. Once settled, though, he dug in, contributing to a mammoth 259-run partnership for the fourth wicket — the highest stand at that position by a visiting team in Sri Lanka.
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