Twitter Reactions: Pat Cummins wrecks havoc at The Gabba as Australia win by an innings and 40 runs against Sri Lanka

This is only the second win for Tim Paine as Australia Test captain.

Published - 26 Jan 2019, 13:03 IST | Updated - 26 Jan 2019, 13:03 IST

2 Min Read

Australia have sealed the day-night Test at The Gabba on the third day itself to take the 1-0 lead in the two-match series against Sri Lanka. It was eventually cakewalk for the home side as Sri Lankan batsmen capitulated for the second time in as many innings thanks to Pat Cummins’ fiery bowling. He continued to bowl with menace after a decent India series and literally ran through the opposition line-up.

The day started with the Islanders at 17/1 who must’ve aimed to make Australia bat again at least. But their ambitions hampered in the first half an hour itself with Cummins picking Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis in successive overs. Lahiru Thirimanne blocked one end up with some resilient batting but the reckless batting continued at the other end.

It was a combination of some poor batting and some exceptional bowling which led to Sri Lanka’s capitulation. Cummins was breathing fire and Jhye Richardson also didn’t give any respite to the visitors. There was literally nothing for the batsmen to do and rather were lucky at times to not get out. Soon it was clear that the game wasn’t even going into the final session of the day.

Cummins’ career-best figures

Pat Cummins scalped the top five batters of the opposition and then came back to send back Dilruwan Perera to cap off an exceptional Test. His second innings figure read 15-8-23-6 and the match figures of 10/62 was his career-best. With Lahiru Kumara ruled out, Sri Lanka were bundled out on 139 itself after losing nine wickets and they batted for only 107.3 overs across both innings.

Australia, on the other hand, batted for 106.2 overs in the first innings itself which proves that there is a huge difference in talent between the fifth and sixth-ranked Tests. Richardson was a huge positive for Australia who ended his debut Test with five wickets to his name. The action now moves on to Canberra where the second and final Test will be played from February 1.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the innings:

Richly deserved 10 wkt haul from @patcummins30, without question Australia’s most valuable pace asset…continues to demonstrate the qualities we all wish to follow. #AUSvSL
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) January 26, 2019

@patcummins30 10fa 👏🏼 absolutely brilliant 👌🏼
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) January 26, 2019

Nice to finally see @patcummins30 get the new ball with Richardson, long overdue decision !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 26, 2019

Pat Cummins' 10-62 the most economical 10-fer by an Aussie since McGrath's 10-27 in 2000 #AUSvSL
— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09) January 26, 2019

Well played Australia, and what an effort by Pat Cummins. Can't say much about our hapless, clueless and useless Lankans!! I didn't expect much from them, but to loose in three days?! @OfficialSLC we couldn't play a village side at the moment!! #SLvAUS #AUSvSL #AUSvSRI
— Rajeev (@rsb95) January 26, 2019

Great win for the Australians👏🏻…Excellent bowling by Pat Cummins and Jhye Richardson was very impressive..Sri Lanka needs to work on their batting line-up…Without Matthews they are not able to score more..Needs to be improved..Well done Kangaroos 🦘! #AUSvSL
— Animesh Salewala (@AnimeshSalewala) January 26, 2019

.@patcummins30 beats Devendra Bishoo's 10-174 vs Pakistan in 2016. #AUSvsSL pic.twitter.com/3IZd1X43Wq
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) January 26, 2019

Pat Cummins efforts in the past 12 months has confirmed him as the leader of the AUS attack … 10 Tests for 54 wickets at the phenomenal average of 19.6 … after years in the wilderness with injury he is now clearly AUS’s number 1 bowler 🏏 #AUSvSRI
— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) January 26, 2019

Australia just made that look too damn easy. Pat Cummins was the star of this innings #AUSvSL #7cricket
— Lauz (@LauzBURNS) January 26, 2019

Pat Cummins has been so impressive for last 18 months, I now think he'd have got into any Australian Test team in the last 25 years.
— Pitched Up Cricket (@PitchedUpCric) January 26, 2019

Is this the summer that cements Pat Cummins in the class of Glenn McGrath etc etc @abcgrandstand @jimmaxcricket
— BigJim618 (@BigJim618) January 26, 2019

Pat Cummins is the best all round cricketer in the world……… After Ben stokes, of course! #AUSvSL
— shrikant jadhav (@jshrikant54) January 26, 2019

SL bowled out < 150 in each inngs of a Test:
109 & 101 vs Pak, Kandy, 1986
91 & 119 vs Eng, Leeds. 2016
144 & 139 vs Aus, Gabba, 2019#AUSvSL
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) January 26, 2019

Pat Cummins: “It’s a beautiful test wicket.”
Couldn’t agree more @patcummins30
Congrats on a great win @CricketAus
Great finish at the Gabba!@qldcricket @teqld @MickdeBrenni
— Kate Jones (@katejonesqld) January 26, 2019