Twitter Reactions: Dominant Australia thrash Sri Lanka to go 1-0 up

Australia decimated Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle as they defeated the hosts by ten wickets to go 1-0 up in the two-match series. David Warner emphatically ended the match with a boundary and a maximum in consecutive deliveries. The visitors needed just five runs in the last innings as they bundled out Sri Lanka for 113 runs in their second innings, thanks to Travis Head (4/10) and Nathan Lyon (4/31).

Notably, Australia, in their first innings, were bundled out for 321 early on Day 3, thereby earning a lead of 109 runs. The Sri Lankan team couldn’t have had a better start to their second innings as Mitchell Starc was taken for four boundaries in his first over. The Sri Lankan batters seemed adamant about playing their shots on a pitch that was turning square. But the hosts fell into the same trap that they have mastered over the years as the Aussie spinners wreaked havoc on the rank turner.

Nathan Lyon took nine wickets in the match

After the opening stand of 37 runs, the Sri Lankan batters were clueless against the Australian spinners, who shared all the ten wickets between them. Nathan Lyon, who picked up a fifer in the first innings, looked set to get the milestone again but he was robbed of a famous ten-wicket haul in the match by Travis Head, who bagged four wickets in just 17 deliveries.

Earlier in the match, the hosts were bundled out for just 212 after electing to bat first. In reply, the Australian batters did well against the Sri Lankan spinners on a dust bowl. Usman Khawaja continued his good form with the bat as he provided a solid start to the visitors alongside David Warner. But the visitors stumbled in the middle with quick wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head.

Australia were in a bit of trouble, but a combative partnership between Alex Carey and top scorer Cameron Green kept the Sri Lankans at bay. Both the batters fell in the quest for quick runs, but Australia did manage a sizeable lead of 109 runs thanks to some late power hitting by skipper Pat Cummins. Sri Lanka couldn’t bounce back afterwards and suffered a humiliating defeat.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Australia’s triumph: 

In Top 10 wickets takers list in Test cricket:

5 pacers – Anderson, Mcgrath, Broad, Walsh & Steyn.
5 spinners – Murali, Warne, Kumble, Ashwin & Lyon.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 1, 2022

Nathan Lyon joins the elusive top-10 club 🙌#SLvAUS | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/kblO1tzphX

— ICC (@ICC) July 1, 2022

9th five-wicket haul for Nathan Lyon in Asia in Test cricket, one of the best from Australia in longer format. pic.twitter.com/SDZUKCk6oh

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 29, 2022

Most five-wicket haul among active players in Tests:

31 – James Anderson
30 – R Ashwin
20 – Nathan Lyon
19 – Stuart Broad
19 – Shakib Al Hasan
16 – Yasir Shah#SLvAUS

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 30, 2022

Australia Spin Trio:

Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Swepson
Travis Head

Excellent Captaincy by Pat Cummins to bring Travis Head on Time 🔥#SLvsAus #AUSvsSL pic.twitter.com/cGhxdlC0IJ

— Hammered Truth 🇦🇺🦘 (@hammered_truth7) July 1, 2022

Australia has just won one of the more remarkable Tests you'll ever see, with Travis Head and Nathan Lyon spinning Sri Lanka out inside a session to ensure a tiny chase for David Warner to hand the Aussies a 1-0 series lead! pic.twitter.com/rqYLYQHAvG

— Triple M Cricket (@triplemcricket) July 1, 2022

Nathan Lyon equals Kapil Dev in the list for the most test wickets! He is currently at 434.

— Cric bug (@Unstoppable_49) July 1, 2022

Nathan Lyon now has more Test wickets than Rangana Herath.#SLvAUS

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) July 1, 2022

Nice Garry!

Another five-wicket haul from the prolific Nathan Lyon capped a top day from our boys over in Galle. SL all out for 212 and we're currently 3-98 in reply 👊 #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/pl077LrIyx

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) June 29, 2022

Australia have defeated Sri Lanka in the first Test by 10 wickets. Travis Head picked 4/10 in just 17 balls in the second innings.

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 1, 2022