GALLE: Opening batter Usman Khawaja and experienced Steve Smith scored unbeaten centuries to put Australia in a commanding position on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka here at the Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.
At the conclusion of the first day’s play, the touring side were 330/2 in 81.1 overs with Khawaja and Smith set in the middle.
Earlier in the day, Australia’s stand-in captain won the toss and opted to bat, a decision which bore fruit for the reigning World Test Champions.
Left-handed opener Travis Head gave the visitors a flamboyant star by smashing a quickfire half-century off just 35 deliveries.
Head, promoted to bat as an opener in the ongoing series, went on to score 57 off just 40 deliveries in his first outing until falling victim to Prabath Jayasuriya in the 15th over with 93 runs on the board.
Marnus Labuschagne then joined Khawaja for a brief 43-run partnership as Jeffrey Vandersay got him caught at slip for a scratchy 20 off 50 deliveries.
Khawaja was then joined by Smith in the middle and the duo batted with command to notch up an unbeaten 195-run partnership for the third wicket to strengthen Australia’s command.
When the stumps were called, Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 147 off 210 deliveries with the help of 10 fours and a six, while Smith had scored 104 not out from 188 balls, studded with as many boundaries.
Notably, during his monumental knock, Smith also breached the 10000-run barrier in Test cricket, becoming the fifth-fastest to amass the milestone.
Steve Smith achieved the feat, playing his signature flick toward mid-on before sprinting for a single.
For Sri Lanka, Jayasuriya and Vandersay could pick up a wicket apiece on the opening day, while the rest remained wicketless.
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