Test cricket as it happened: Sri Lanka in trouble in Galle after Australia declare on 6-654; Aussie women on top in MCG Ashes Test

What an eventful little period heading into stumps.

Australia strike late on day two of the opening Test in Galle with three quick wickets to stick the knife even further into Sri Lanka.

Todd Murphy tries his luck in the final over of the day and almost gets his side’s fourth wicket.

It couldn’t have gone better for Steve Smith’s men after an emphatic performance with the bat.

A tough old day for the home side.

Sri Lanka 3-44 at stumps, trail by 610 runs

Thanks for following along today. Make sure you check our mastheads for all the latest news and analysis from Galle. Lots to dissect as well from the Women’s Ashes in Melbourne.

We’ll be back tomorrow. See you then.

Australia’s Travis Head celebrates after taking a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews during day two. Credit: AP

What a magnificent catch from Travis Head at short leg.

Nathan Lyon gets one to bounce and bite, catching the glove of Angelo Mathews.

It flies into the air on the leg side and Head takes a ripper of a catch diving to his right.

The boys get around him. Major trouble for Sri Lanka who are 3-30.

Starc, coming over the wicket, pushes one across the right-handed Chandimal and it catches the edge. But it bursts through McSweeney’s hands. Very tough catch, well above his head.

During Lyon’s next over, a ball trickles back onto Angelo Mathews’ stumps but the bails don’t come off. The Aussie lads can’t believe it. All happening in Galle, with about 25 minutes until stumps.

Sri Lanka 2-28, trail by 626 runs

Australia’s Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne.Credit: AP

Major drama for the home side as Australian sub fielder Nathan McSweeney takes a handy catch in the gully off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

Dimuth Karunaratne tries to guide one behind point but it’s hit straight towards McSweeney. He catches it on the rebound. Great composure.

Gone for seven. Similar story. Starc is happy.

Sri Lanka 2-15, trail by … wait for it … 639 runs.

Wicket. Credit: AP

It was a productive day for Australia on the opening day of the Women’s Ashes Test.

The home side is 1-56 after bowling England out for 170, thanks to a four-wicket haul from Alana King.

Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield (20 off 65 balls) and Annabel Sutherland (24 off 51 balls) put on 37 runs under lights to survive to stumps.

Phoebe Litchfield of Australia bats during day one. Credit: Getty Images

Sri Lanka have loads to get. Here we go.

Mitchell Starc gets a bit of swing in what is a pretty decent over to begin with. Just the one run off it. Lots of debate who will take the new ball at the other end. Ain’t Webster. Ain’t Lyon. Matt Kuhnemann it is.

The left-arm orthodox spinner gets hit for four behind point first ball but seems have taken a wicket. The finger goes up for an LBW with Sri Lankan opener Oshada Fernando hit in front.

Sri Lanka review it. Replays show it’s just hitting the top of middle. Great ball. Kuhnemann is pumped.

A grim start for the home side. Doesn’t get much worse than that. In the dirt for nearly two days and out after just 10 balls. Fernando is gone for seven. If you don’t laugh you’ll cry.

Sri Lanka 1-7

The show goes on as Alex Carey edges towards a half century in Galle. Brutal stuff from Australia at the moment.

No signs of mercy.

WAIT … THERE IS IT. A declaration. Finally. Sri Lanka will have a bat today. Handy unbeaten contributions at the end from Alex Carey (46 from 69 balls) and Mitchell Starc (19 from 19 balls).

Heck of an innings. Australia in a completely dominant position.

The big left-hander has been hitting them well and seems to have brushed off getting “badged”.

Australia 6-637 after 151 overs

Australia have made their way to 1-27 in response to England’s 170, with Litchfield (nine off 41) and Sutherland (six off 17) watching them closely.