Captain Steve Smith led from the front and proved his batting mastery against spin bowling, crafting a masterful century alongside Alex Carey on Day 2 of the second Test against Sri Lanka. Smith and Carey's unbeaten hundreds propelled Australia to a dominant 330 for three on Day two of the second and final Test in Galle on Friday. Smith's unbeaten 120 marked his second consecutive century in the series, while Carey's career-best 139 not out included an impressive 22 fours and three sixes.
Steve Smith, Alex Carey smash centuries as Australia dominate Sri Lanka
The pair's right-left combination proved highly effective, scoring at a rapid pace of nearly four-and-a-half runs per over. Their match-defining, unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 239 runs put Australia firmly in control and on track for a 2-0 series sweep.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka's innings came to an end for 257 at the Galle International Stadium, with Kusal Mendis stranded on 85. Matthew Kuhnemann secured the final wicket, dismissing Sri Lanka's number 11 batsman, Lahiru Kumara, who had held on for 26 balls.
Along with Kuhnemann's wickets, fellow spinner Nathan Lyon and Australia's pace spearhead Mitchell Starc also contributed significantly, each taking three wickets. Kusal Mendis, despite his strong innings, ran out of partners and was left stranded on 85. He did, however, surpass Dinesh Chandimal (74) to become Sri Lanka's highest scorer in their first innings.
Australia's innings began with a typically aggressive start from Travis Head. The left-handed batsman scored a run-a-ball 21 before his attacking approach led to his dismissal. He stepped out to a flighted delivery from Nishan Peiris, only to edge the ball into the waiting hands of Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva at slip.
Sri Lanka managed to get an early breakthrough when Prabath Jayasuriya trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for four. The dismissal came after Sri Lanka successfully reviewed the initial not-out decision. The very next ball saw Smith survive a close lbw shout off the same left-arm spinner, but Sri Lanka's review this time failed to overturn the on-field decision. Smith's luck continued when, on 23, he was given out lbw to Peiris. He immediately reviewed, and the decision was reversed as replays showed the ball had struck him outside the off-stump.
After lunch, Peiris dismissed Usman Khawaja for 36. However, this wicket only paved the way for a dominant partnership between Smith and Carey. Carey, who was promoted to number five due to a back injury sustained by Josh Inglis, joined Smith and the pair proceeded to deflate the Sri Lankan bowling attack. A powerful pulled boundary off Kamindu Mendis brought up Smith's 36th Test century, shortly before Australia surpassed Sri Lanka's total. Carey then accelerated, hitting Jayasuriya for two fours in an over on his way to a 118-ball hundred, ultimately surpassing his captain's score.