Australia’s cricket team has the upper hand after day two of the second Test match against Sri Lanka in Canberra. But the days’ played was marred by the injury to Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne after being hit by a short ball from Pat Cummins.
The Aussies resumed their first innings on 384 for the loss of four wickets on the morning of day two in the Australian capital Canberra. Middle order batsman Kurtis Patterson in only his second Test — notched up his maiden Test century…
He shared in an unbeaten 130-run sixth wicket partnership with his captain Tim Paine to get Australia well past the 500 mark.
The pair finished unbeaten on 114 and 45 respectively as Paine declared their innings closed on a commanding 534 for five before tea.
Sri Lanka’s openers made a solid start in their reply and they were coasting along on 82 for no loss when Karunaratne was downed by Cummins.
The Sri Lankan opener suffered a blow to the back of the neck when he failed to get out of the way of a 142 kilometers per hour Cummins bouncer, about an hour before the close.
He collapsed immediately, losing grip of his bat, and lay almost motionless as medical staff inspected and eventually stretchered him off the field, for the necessary scans.
Encouragingly, the opener was conscious throughout the episode, and was seen talking to the medics and moving his hands.
But it is still unclear whether he will be able to take any further part in the match.
The sudden retirement of Karunaratne for 46 would have sent shock-waves through the Sri Lankan dressing room — and it showed.
The visitors lost their next three top order batsmen for the addition of just 41 runs.
Mitchell Starc, Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon claimed a scalp a piece as Sri Lanka limped to stumps in a bit of trouble on 123 for three…still trailing by 411 runs.
