Khawaja, Smith tons put Australia in command

Khawaja, Smith tons put Australia in command

Centuries from Usman Khawaja (147*) and Steve Smith (104*) have given Australia an early advantage in the first Test after Day 1 in Galle. Travis Head scored a 35-ball 50 in the first hour of play. Sri Lanka failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities to dismiss Khawaja. Australia ended Day 1 on 330/2 at Stumps.

After two grueling sessions, Sri Lanka's spinners bowled lines outside the leg-stump. Smith was content padding the balls away. Jayasuriya did take the edge of Khawaja, but the batter's slog-sweep fell safely near deep square-leg.

Scoring was slow during this period as the batters rotated strike. Australia didn't score a boundary for 100 deliveries until the 75th over. Smith reached his ton with a three, his 35th Test ton. Rain then forced an early Stumps shortly after.

Head got Australia off to a strong start, dispatching Asitha Fernando for three fours in the opening over. Khawaja and Head scored three more boundaries off Asitha in his third over. Head survived an LBW call on 23, as ball-tracking showed three reds. He eventually holed out to long-on after a 40-ball 57.

Khawaja reached 50 but survived a dropped catch at slip. Vandersay struck for Sri Lanka, dismissing Labuschagne. Prabath Jayasuriya then dropped Smith off his own bowling after Smith brought up 10,000 runs.

After Lunch, Smith cleared the ropes against Jayasuriya. Sri Lanka missed another opportunity to review and dismiss Khawaja on 74 after a faint nick. Smith made full use of Jeffrey Vandersay's errant line, hitting three boundaries. Khawaja unfurled the reverse sweep and then caressed one through extra-cover for four as he moved into the nineties.

Smith brought up his 50 with a single towards mid-wicket before Khawaja brought up his century with a flick to fine-leg for four.

Brief Scores: Australia 330/2 (Usman Khawaja 147*, Steve Smith 104*, Travis Head 57; Jeffrey Vandersay 1-93, Prabath Jaysuriya 1-102) vs Sri Lanka