Sri Lanka set 516 runs to win in two days against Australia

Mitchell Starc picked up five wickets to bowl Sri Lanka out for 215 in their first innings before Usman Khawaja brought up a hundred to set the visitors a target of 516 in the second Test in Canberra.

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Khawaja made a breezy 101* off 136 balls, on Sunday, 3 February, at the Manuka Oval. He combined well with Travis Head (59*) to steady the Australian innings from 37/3.

The declaration came soon after his landmark, with the hosts 196/3 and 515 runs ahead. Lahiru Thirimanne and Dimuth Karunaratne took the visitors to 17/0, reducing the deficit to 499 by stumps on day three.

Khawaja, who had averaged just 28.28 in the four-Test series against India and made 11 runs in his two innings against Sri Lanka before this one, appeared emotional on reaching his eighth Test ton. With the Sri Lankan bowlers making early inroads, he had been under pressure right from the start, despite the cushion of runs his team had from the first innings.

He took his time to get going, but grew in confidence. He came out after tea with intent, bringing up his half-century and going on to showcase some fine shots, including a ramp in the 90s, on his way to the three-figure mark.

Earlier, resuming on 123/3, Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva were welcomed with fiery pace bowling. Pat Cummins was fired up, while Jhye Richardson was penetrating and accurate – but it was Starc who walked away with the five-for.

Perera had offered up some half chances in the morning before he was struck on the helmet by a Richardson short ball. He was batting on 27 when he ducked into the delivery, which hit him near his ear and caused the protectors to fly off. He continued batting through the over after receiving medical attention, but clearly uneasy in the next over, he retired hurt.

Walking out in his place was Karunaratne, who had been stretchered off the ground and taken to hospital after similarly receiving a blow to the head on Saturday. He had been cleared to play after concussion tests showed no issues.

He didn’t last long, however. In his second over of the day, Starc got both de Silva and Karunaratne. De Silva had mostly himself to blame, getting out hit wicket, while Karunaratne nicked one to gully. Starc was then involved as a fielder as Sri Lanka lost a third wicket – that of Chamika Karunaratne – for four runs.

Niroshan Dickwella played a quick cameo, but in no time after lunch, Starc wrapped up the innings for 215/9, with Perera not returning to bat.

Tim Paine chose not to enforce the follow-on, but his top order didn’t give him the kind of start the team would have wanted. Sri Lanka’s bowlers didn’t have the pace of Cummins and co., but a little deviation and Kusal Mendis’ safe hands at slip meant they fought back.

Their high didn’t last long, though. Head, fresh from his hundred in the first innings, picked up from where he left off and gave Khawaja the chance to come into his own. Their partnership had swelled to 159 when the declaration came.

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