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Head and Khawaja get Aussies off to a flyer as Smith reaches 10,000-run milestone
Lachlan Geleit • January 29th, 2025 7:34 pm
Australia has made a strong start to the first Test in Galle after choosing to win the toss and bat, reaching 2/145 at Lunch on Day 1.
The Aussies got off to a brilliant start thanks to Travis Head (57 off 40 balls) and Usman Khawaja (65 not out), with the duo reaching 92 from the first 14.3 overs before Head was out caught at long-on.
The loss of Head, who was bringing the scoreboard along with him, brought Marnus Labuschagne (20) to the crease and he’d fall to Jeffrey Vandersay with the leg-spinner having the No. 3 caught at slip after a brilliant spell with the ball.
Steve Smith (2 not out) then walked out to bat just before the break and he worked a single to wide mid-on off his first ball to bring up 10,000 Test match runs, becoming just the fourth Aussie to reach the milestone and 15th all-time in Test cricket.
He was then dropped on 1 when Prabath Jayasuriya (1/41 off 12 overs) put down a regulation caught and bowled opportunity.
Sri Lanka will be somewhat pleased to work themselves back into the game somewhat by slowing the scoring and taking a couple of wickets, even if they could have had Head earlier if they reviewed an early LBW off the bowling of Asitha Fernando.
Khawaja and Smith return to the crease at 6:10 pm (AEDT) 12:40 pm local time.
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