Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 3: Aussies their own worst enemy as Test slips away

The 2nd Test against Sri Lanka is slipping away from the Aussies after a day where they let several crucial chances slip. 

Sri Lanka has the upper hand in the second Test after Australia let several crucial chances slip on day 3.  

Sri Lanka's batters continued to frustrate the Aussie attack in Galle, losing only a handful of wickets. 

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Australia registered a first-innings total of 364, but the hosts batted well to be 6/431 at stumps with a 67-run first innings lead. 

Dinesh Chandimal batted superbly and was 118 not out after notching up his 13th century in Test cricket. 

He shared a 133-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis that broke the back of the Australians. 

Mendis and wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella departed late in the day but the tourists will rue several missed opportunities earlier. 

Steve Smith got his fingertips to a tough chance off Nathan Lyon, while Alex Carey's wicketkeeping will come under increased scrutiny after he missed three stumpings. 

Australia leads the series 1-0 and will have to take early wickets on day 4 to keep the dream of a series sweep alive.

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal celebrates after scoring a century at Galle. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP)

Updates

9:11 pm July 10, 2022 Highlight

Chandimal scores century

Dinesh Chandimal has raised the bat after scoring his 13th century in Test cricket.

But just after Chandimal passed three figures, Kamindu Mendis chopped on after Mitchell Swepson tossed one up, ending the 133-run partnership.

8:18 pm July 10, 2022 Highlight

Sri Lanka takes lead, Aussies miss chances

The Test match is threatening to slip away from Australia after they missed several opportunities to break the fifth-wicket partnership.

Sri Lanka has passed Australia's first innings total with Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis still at the crease.

Steve Smith missed a tough chance at first slip off the bowling of Nathan Lyon and Alex Carey will be kicking himself after missing a regulation stumping, also off Lyon's bowling.

That could not have been a more textbook stumping to a left-hander for Alex Carey. His second miss this innings. First would have been a blinder but last seemed a case of thinking Kamindu was going to get bat on ball. Caught by surprise.

Critical moment in the Test.

— Tom Decent (@tomdecent) July 10, 2022

Adding insult to injury, Lyon appeared to be suffering from cramp and limped off the field for a period before returning soon after.

6:57 pm July 10, 2022 Highlight

Sri Lanka within striking distance

It is raining lightly in Galle, so an early tea break has been taken.

Sri Lanka is 4/327 and now trails Australia's first innings total by just 37 runs.

Dinesh Chandimal (63) and Kamindu Mendis (24) are the not out batters.

6:30 pm July 10, 2022 Highlight

Australia pays huge price after burning reviews

Tyson Otto

Australian captain Pat Cummins would have been pulling his hair out after burning both reviews in the first session of play – only to have none in the sheds when they actually needed one.

Dinesh Chandimal slashed at a shortish ball from Mitchell Starc and the ball appeared to take a top edge on the way through to the keeper. However, the on-field umpire ignored the vocal appeals from the Aussies.

Replays showed exactly how costly the earlier reviews were.

Australia earlier lost one referral for an LBW appeal that had taken a bottom edge and then lost a second one when appealing for a catch that popped up off a pad instead of the bat.

Oh dear…

Mitchell Starc finds the outside edge of Dinesh Chandimal’s bat, but umpire Kumar Dharmasena doesn’t raise the finger.

And Australia has already wasted their three unsuccessful reviews.#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/sI0XSMGB6G

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 10, 2022

Chandimal nicks Starc but no reviews left and Kumar isn't interested. Aust have really snookered themselves on the reviews here. Two dismissals unable to be referred since lunch #SLvAUS

— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) July 10, 2022

Those wasted reviews proving costly. #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/CyB0TvIFQi

— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) July 10, 2022

6:09 pm July 10, 2022 Highlight

Marnus magic finally breaks partnership

Tyson Otto

A ripper of a catch from Marnus Labuschagne brought some joy for Australia with a wicket soon after the lunch break.

The dismissal of Angelo Matthews for 52 broke an 83 run partnership that would have had skipper Pat Cummins nervous.

Labuschagne moved quickly to his left to snare an incredible catch after Mitchell Starc's delivery deflected off an inside edge and popped up.

2:53 pm July 10, 2022 Highlight

Lyon strikes after genius tactical switch

Tyson Otto

Nathan Lyon struck early on Day 3 with the huge wicket of Kusal Mendis.

The Aussie produced a textbook delivery spinning into the body of the right-hander. The ball snuck past Mendis' edge and caught him plum LBW.

Mendis optimistically challenged the on-field decision from the umpires and the replays showed how very poor his referral was.

It was a brilliant tactical shift that appeared to undo Mendis, who fell for 85 to leave Sri Lanka 3/186.

Aussie test great Brad Haddin was impressed with the fielding change that occured just moments before Lyon struck.

"It’s amazing how one little fielding change can have such a massive impact on what is going on out in the middle," Haddin said in TV commentary.

"David Warner has gone from leg slip to a gully and it’s allowed Nathan Lyon to have the confidence to go a little wider outside off stump because he’s not worried about getting hit through the covers. A good tactical move by the Aussies."

Nathan Lyon got some serious turn.

1:17 pm July 10, 2022 Highlight

Warner's journo sledge on stump mic

James McKern

David Warner came to the aid of Sri Lanka's batsmen on the second day of the second Test in Galle.

As the day's play dragged on with the locals frustrating the Aussie attack, a request somehow made its way to Warner.

A distraction from the media section was catching the eye of the locals and Warner stepped in.

Standing over the stumps, Warner put cricket commentator Geoff Lemon on the spot.

"Broadcast can you tell Geoff Lemon to sit down in the yellow, the batsmen is frustrated please," Warner said.

The Fox broadcast then panned to the media booth which showed Lemon standing in the back of the box.

A good sport about it, Lemon tweeted the clip but clarified his shirt wasn't yellow.

Actually, David, it’s more of a beige and cinnamon pic.twitter.com/XXqkQFurKl

— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) July 9, 2022