Australia had Sri Lanka three down after opener Usman Khawaja's first double century and a ton on debut by Josh Inglis helped the tourists to 654-6 declared in the first match on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka were 44-3 by stumps on day two at Galle with senior batsmen Dinesh Chandimal, on nine, and Kamindu Mendis, on 13, on guard until rain stopped play.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann struck first to have Oshada Fernando lbw and soon pace spearhead Mitchell Starc got Dimuth Karunaratne caught at gully. Both batsmen made seven.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon then sent back former skipper Angelo Mathews out for eight with Travis Head taking a diving catch at short leg.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khawaja's 266-run third-wicket partnership with Steve Smith, who hit 141 in a landmark innings that got the stand-in skipper to 10,000 Test runs, stood out after Australia elected to bat first at the start of the two-match series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It was the first time the tourists had breached the 600-run mark in Sri Lanka, surpassing their previous Asian high of 617, posted in Pakistan in 1980.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey was unbeaten on 46 with Starc on 19 when Smith declared the first innings in the final session.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Inglis made it count when he walked in after Smith departed on 141 in a landmark innings that got the stand-in skipper to 10,000 Test runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He made 102 and with Khawaja kept up the batting surge in a 146-run stand to tire out the opposition attack.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Hasn't sunk in yet," Inglis told reporters. "Nice to get the team into a very strong position.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Obviously having played in the sub-continent helps. The training camp in Dubai was really key. We were able to work out our individual plans. If you see all our guys had clear plans."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Khawaja answers critics -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya broke the partnership to get Khawaja caught behind as the opener walked back after 352 balls that included 16 fours and one six.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Inglis reached his ton off 90 balls as he jumped in delight and punched the air.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But he got out in the next over as he gave away a catch to short cover off Jayasuriya.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Jayasuriya and fellow spinner Jeffrey Vandersay took three wickets each as Sri Lanka toiled for 154 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The surface didn't change much. They were bowling better lines and a bit quicker and that was the difference," said Vandersay.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Australia has a mammoth total on the board. We just need to bat long as possible and keep focusing on building partnerships and take one session at a time."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The tourists resumed on 330-2 as overnight batsmen Khawaja and Smith frustrated the opposition attack on a sunny morning.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khawaja took a single off Jayasuriya to reach 200 as he removed his helmet, raised his bat and dropped down to kiss the turf while teammates and fans stood up to applaud.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
His previous best was an unbeaten 195 against South Africa in 2023 at Sydney and he is now the first Australian batsman to make a double ton in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\r\n\r\n