SL vs AUS: Top 5 performers of Test series

The two-match Test series between Australia and Sri Lanka concluded successfully with the hosts levelling it to 1-1. Australia won the first match by a good margin and gained some good on the WTC points table. They looked like clear winners of the series and the Sri Lankan side was without the services of some of their key players as they had contracted the Covid-19 virus.

Australia scored a good amount of runs in the first innings of the second Test, but Sri Lanka bounced back stronger and covered up the chase. Before the hosts were bowled out by the Australian bowlers, they had managed to get a lead of 190 runs. Looking at Australia’s heroics from the first innings, it seemed easy for them but Sri Lanka took the command and controlled the game from the very beginning as the bowlers dished out the Australian line-up for 151 runs to win the final match by an innings and 39 runs.

Let us have a look at the top five performers of the Test series-

Dinesh Chandimal

The Sri Lankan middle-order batter scored his career’s first-ever double-century in the second Test match when his side was working hard to post a big total on board after the Australian innings had witnessed two centurions. Chandimal capitalized on the start that the top-order had provided and went on to finish the innings with an unbeaten 206 off 326.

Prabath Jayasuriya

Jayasuriya made his debut in the second Test match and made full use of the opportunity. He picked up 12 wickets in just one game, taking two six-wicket hauls throughout the two Australian innings and wreaked havoc on the field. After Chandimal’s heroics, he was the major reason behind Sri Lanka’s win and he surely had a memorable debut.

Steve Smith

The Australian middle-order batter and one of the finest players of the format, Smith broke ended his century drought and finally achieved the three-figure mark after a long gap. He remained unbeaten in the first innings and ended up scoring 145 runs off 275 deliveries and anchored the innings.

Marnus Labuschagne

One of the most consistent performers in the Australian Test squad, Labuschagne bagged yet another century score when he punished the bowlers in the first innings of the second Test. He was picked up by Jayasuriya eventually but managed to get 104 runs off 156 balls and kept the scoreboard ticking.

Nathan Lyon

Lyon was the stand-out performer in the first game and contributed to Australia’s 10-wicket win. He picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, followed it with a four-wicket haul in the second innings, and finished with a total of nine wickets. In the second Test, he scalped two wickets to take his series total to 11.