Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne has played his final Test innings as the team fought hard to avoid an innings defeat against Australia in the second Test. At the end of Day 3, Sri Lanka reached 211/8, securing a narrow 54-run lead with just two wickets in hand.
Australia, resuming their first innings at 330/3, posted a total of 414, led by centuries from Steve Smith and Alex Carey. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, especially Prabath Jayasuriya (5 wickets), Nishan Peiris (3 wickets), and Ramesh Mendis (2 wickets), managed to restrict the visitors.
In Sri Lanka’s second innings, Pathum Nissanka (8) and Dimuth Karunaratne opened the batting, marking Karunaratne’s farewell Test appearance. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka’s top order struggled, but a vital 70-run partnership between Angelo Mathews (76) and Kusal Mendis (48*) kept hopes alive.
For Australia, Matthew Kuhnemann claimed four wickets, Nathan Lyon took three, and Beau Webster grabbed one.
With only two wickets remaining, Sri Lanka faces an uphill battle heading into Day 4.
