Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja Slam Unbeaten Tons, Australia On Top vs Sri Lanka
Australia's decision to drop Sam Konstas and not Usman Khawaja paid dividends as the veteran opener remained not out on 147 at Stumps on Day
Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja Slam Unbeaten Tons, Australia On Top vs Sri Lanka
Australia's decision to drop Sam Konstas and not Usman Khawaja paid dividends as the veteran opener remained not out on 147 at Stumps on Day
Steve Smith stood unbeaten on 104 after crossing 10,000 Test runs and helped Australia pummel Sri Lanka alongside fellow centurion Usman Khawaja on day one of the opening Test on Wednesday. Australia reached 330-2 in 81.1 overs when rain stopped play for the day after the tourists elected to bat first in Galle at the start of the two-match serie
He made the hosts pay dearly, crafting a sublime 35th Test century to reaffirm his stature as one of Australia's rock in the middle-order.
Khawaja reached his 16th Test hundred -- his maiden ton on Sri Lankan soil -- after a 17-match drought since his Ashes century in June 2023.
The ton came with a flick off fast bowler Asitha Fernando to the fine leg boundary, a stroke brimming with elegance and relief.
The 38-year-old had a few heart-in-mouth moments when a couple of edges fell just short of fielders and a reprieve on 74 when he nicked Jayasuriya to the keeper, but Sri Lanka chose not to review the on-field decision.
Another opportunity slipped through Sri Lanka's fingers with Smith on 90 as Kusal Mendis, slow to react behind the stumps, spilled a bat-pad chance.
