WATCH: Travis Head’s rush of blood costs Australia massive wicket before lunch on day two of Galle Test

Australia went to lunch on day two of the second Test in Galle at 85/2 after 21 overs. Opening batter Travis Head was the first man out, scoring 21 runs off 22 balls with three boundaries. The visitors had added 32 runs for the opening wicket in the first seven overs.  

Head was facing Nishan Peiris when he charged down the pitch in an attempt to hit the bowler over the top. However, the ball caught the edge of his bat and flew to Dhananjaya de Silva, who was positioned in the slip region. The Sri Lankan skipper took a sharp catch, giving the hosts their first wicket of the innings.

Watch the video here:

Head charges at Nishan but only succeeds in edging to Dhananjaya at slip!#SLvAUSpic.twitter.com/Sqrz4FjSVx

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 7, 2025

Prabath Jayasuriya struck in his first over when he got the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne for four runs. The umpire initially gave it not out before the Lankans decided to review the call and saw the decision turn in their favour. Skipper Steve Smith was hit on his pads on his first ball. Sri Lanka decided to review the call but the decision came in Smith’s favor. Usman Khawaja was batting on 34 with Smith on 23 at lunch. 

Kusal Mendis’ 85 not out leads Sri Lanka to 257 

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first with Dimuth Karunaratne playing his 100th and final game. Nathan Lyon dismissed Pathum Nissanka for 11 before getting the scalp of Karunaratne for 36. The former Lankan skipper added 70 runs for the second wicket with Dinesh Chandimal. 

The veteran spinner got his third wicket when he dismissed Angelo Mathews for just one run. Australia kept picking wickets at regular intervals as they got the key wickets of Kamindu Mendis and Dhananjaya De Silva in a space of three balls. Dinesh Chandimal was out for 74 as he was stumped by Carey to give Kuhnemann his first scalp. Chandimal’s innings came off 163 balls with six fours and a six. 

Kusal Mendis stayed not out on 85 from 139 balls with his innings producing ten boundaries and a six. Ramesh Mendis hung around to score 28 off 94 balls before being dismissed by Mitchell Starc. The hosts were bowled out for 257 in the 98th over with Starc, Lyon, and Kuhnemann taking three wickets each.