Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka bounce back to a historic Test win

The number 7 ranked Test team was up against the number 1 team though playing at home nobody gave a chance to Angelo Mathews & Co. enough to beat Australia. They were bowled out for a paltry first innings total and questions were raised about the ability of the Sri Lankan team and whether they would be any competition to this Australian side. But as it turns out the hosts powered by an inspired knock from Kusal Mendis and brilliant bowling by veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath beat Australia by 109 runs in the first Test at Pallekele.

Mathews won the toss and opted to bat first but little did he know that the batsmen would find it so difficult to bat against the Aussies that the best score of the inning for them would be just 24 and the inning would fold for 117. They got things back in hands with the ball and bowled out Australia for 203.

The second inning started on a similar note with two early wickets for the Aussie bowlers but it was the knock from Kusal Mendis that changed the course of the game. Like Dinesh Chandimal had done in the first Test against India in their previous home series a big hundred in the second inning and Sri Lanka had enough lead for their spinners to unleash and bowl out the opposition. Mendis’ scored the first hundred of his Test career and carried on to make it larger. He was accounted for on the third day by Mitchell Starc but not before scoring 176.

Sri Lanka posted 353 in the second inning and set Australia a target of 268 to win the Test. The slower bowlers once again did the trick as Rangana Herath and Lakshan Sandakan shared 8 wickets between them in the 4th inning.

Also read – SL v AUS, 1st Test Review: Sri Lanka scripts a historic victory

The Australian tail hung in there for a while, the partnership between Peter Nevil and Steven O’Keefe lasted longer than 30 overs but couldn’t bail the team out to a draw. Dhananjaya de Silva induced an edge off Nevil’s bat and Herath soon clean bowled O’Keefe to conclude the Test and with that Sri Lanka beat Australia in a Test for the first time in the last 17 years.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Sri Lanka’s inspiring victory:

Well done, Sri Lanka. Two fairytale Test matches in the last 12 months. Great comeback. ?? #SLvAus

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 30, 2016

Last time SL beat AUS in a Test –
Warner, Khawaja were 13.
Steve Smith, Joe Burns were 10.
Mitchell Marsh was 8.#SLvAUS

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) July 30, 2016

world class inns, brilliant fightback, spin, attrition, mandatory Herath 5-for in 4th inn. Mandatory Aus loss in Asia. Superb Test #SLvAUS

— jigar mehta (@jigsactin) July 30, 2016

5-fer for Rangana Herath! Sri Lanka beat Australia by 106 runs #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/0PQvYoHq6z

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 30, 2016

Most Test defeats in Asia since 2008:

15 – Bangladesh (28 matches)
14 – Sri Lanka (54 matches)
11 – AUSTRALIA (16 matches)#SLvAUS

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) July 30, 2016

When SL last beat Aus they had Murali, Mahela, de Silva, Ranatunga, Vaas, Jayasuriya. Is this win the making of a new generation? #SLvAUS

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) July 30, 2016

This test match was a salvation for
– Srilankan Cricket
– 5 day test matches
– Spin bowling
– Young Srilankan talents#SLvAUS

— cricBC (@cricBC) July 30, 2016

This is SL’s second win over a Test-playing nation this year, and its the top-ranked Test team who have lost. How to make sense? #SLvAUS

— Andrew F Fernando (@andrewffernando) July 30, 2016

Teams winning most often after scoring 120 or less in 1st innings
5 England/Australia
3 Pakistan
1 Sri Lanka*/India#SLvAUS

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) July 30, 2016

And that Marsh dismissal makes one wonder even more. What was Herath doing not bowling?#SLvAus

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) July 30, 2016

After ages Mathews Gonna speak second in a post match Presentation 😀 #SLvAUS

— Waterboy (@INSHAFRUL) July 30, 2016

Congratulations to Kusal Mendis, Man of the Match for his brilliant innings of 176. #SLvAUS @KusalMendis1

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) July 30, 2016

Sri Lanka proved that ranking is just a number by defeating the no.1 test team Australia.#ProudLankan #SLvAUS

— Rishad (@Im_Rishad) July 30, 2016

FYI… Galle pitch will turn!!! #captainobvious
If it was me.. Play 3 spinners.. Sadly Hazlewood will miss.. Starc & Bison to open bowling.

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) July 30, 2016

Fantastic #SLvAus Test – sets up the series beautifully. #kusalmendis innings will be one to remember for years to come.

— Brian Murgatroyd (@murgersb) July 30, 2016

Kusal Mendis earns the Man of the Match award for his match turning score in Sri Lanka's 2nd Innings #SLvAus pic.twitter.com/Y9WE4oia7D

— ICC (@ICC) July 30, 2016

Player of the Match Kusal Mendis and skipper Angelo Mathews with ?? legend – and happy selector – @sanath07! #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/ba7W5uwt7v

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) July 30, 2016

Australia played 25 maiden overs in a row, but couldn't save the match. Nevertheless, a brilliant effort. Appreciable patience. #SLvAUS

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) July 30, 2016

Best fourth inngs bowling avg (Min 3000 balls):

19.07 C Walsh
19.49 G McGrath
21.01 M Muralitharan
21.87 RANGANA HERATH *#SLvAUS

— Deepu Narayana (@deeputalks) July 30, 2016

Australia batsmen trying to pick Herath. What they see: #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/rnarvJ5Hmm

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) July 30, 2016

Rangana Herath with 310 wkts, now 6th most successful spinner in Test cricket history, after Murali, Warne, Kumble, Bajji & Vettori.#SLvAus

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 30, 2016