Downpour halts Sri Lanka Test as Australia tighten grip
Incessant afternoon rain forced an early end to day three of the first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka on Friday, with the visitors leading by 518 and former home skipper Dinesh Chandimal waging a lone battle on 63.
Sri Lanka were 136-5 by lunch in Galle, with wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis also at the crease on 10, after losing two more wickets from their overnight 44-3.
The break was called early and players were kept off the pitch through the afternoon, with officials calling an end 90 minutes before the scheduled finish.
Kamindu Mendis departed for 15 after an edge to the keeper off Mitchell Starc, further denting the Bradman-like average he maintained at the start of his Test comeback last year.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva looked comfortable before rushing down the track to Matthew Kuhnemann and missing the ball completely, gifting Alex Carey a regulation stumping and leaving for 22.
Left-arm speedster Starc expertly created rough patches outside the off stump, while Nathan Lyon relentlessly probed away from the other end.
Chandimal, who was promoted to the crucial number three position last year and has since averaged over 50, stood firm despite the uphill battle to avoid the follow-on.
Australia declared on 654-6 late on the second day after opener Usman Khawaja's career-best 232.
The opening day saw stand-in skipper Steve Smith join the elite club of 10,000 career Test run-makers, the fifteenth player and fourth Australian to reach the milestone.
Picturesque Galle will also host the second and final match of the series next week before a two-match ODI series in Colombo.
str/gle/pbt
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
How to watch World Test Championship Final 2025 cricket on ICC TV (It's free)
You can watch all five days of Australia vs South Africa live on ICC TV, streaming for free. The stream includes English commentary as the Aussie bowlers look to turn over Proteas batters cheaply following a 14 wicket opening day. The worldwide platform will show every wicket and boundary to a variety of fans across the globe - find the full list here. Can you access ICC TV in the U.S., U.K. and Australia? Read on and we'll show you how to watch World Test Championship 2025 live streams from anywhere with a VPN for FREE. Cricket fans in countries from Afghanistan to Vietnam can watch the 2025 World Test Championship live for FREE on ICC TV. You can sign into ICC TV via Google, Facebook or Apple accounts or alternatively your e-mail. Not at home right now? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to trick your device into thinking you're at home in one of the countries that has the coverage for free. We watched Day 1 and the quality on the platform was superb! Although ICC TV is only available in select countries, those who are from the nations streaming the action for free but visiting the likes of Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. can stream it through the use of VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software sets your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So, it's ideal for sports fans away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market: There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. Get up to 70% off now and an Amazon gift card if you're a U.S. or Canadian resident! It is really easy to watch, here's how. Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.S. and want to view your Czech Republican service, you'd select Czech Republic from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to ICC TV and watch Day 2 right now. ICC TV show full coverage of the action, with the first ball arriving at 10:30 a.m. (BST) each day. A star-studded commentary panel has arrived at Lord's for the final featuring former greats including Matthew Hayden, Graeme Smith, Stuart Broad, Shaun Pollock and Kevin Pietersen, alongside leading broadcasters Nasser Hussain, Ravi Shastri, Mel Jones, Ian Smith, Ian Bishop and Dinesh Karthik. Daily highlights are also provided if you have missed out on the day's action. Remember. Use NordVPN if you're outside your usual country on vacation. Australia Innings 1: 212 all out (56.4) B. Webster, 72 | S. Smith, 66 South Africa Innings 1: 43-4 (22) R. Rickelton, 16 | D. Bedingham, 8 We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Club World Cup Odds: Bookies Heavily Favor European Teams
Club World Cup Odds: Bookies Heavily Favor European Teams originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Real Madrid are the favorites to win the Club World Cup (CWC), which kicks off on June 14th with Lionel Messi's Inter Milan vs Al Ahly. The full list of odds is at the bottom of this article. Advertisement For the first time ever the competition will bring together teams from all six of FIFA's continental confederations—UEFA (Europe, 12 teams), CONMEBOL (South America, 6 teams), AFC (Asia, 4 teams), CAF (Africa, 4 teams), CONCACAF (North and Central America, 5 teams), and OFC (Oceania, 1 team). The teams are competing for bragging the small matter of a $1 billion prize pool, with the winner set to collect a cool $125 million. That's about the equivalent of one world class player in the current transfer market. Real Madrid favored to win - again Not surprisingly the bookies heavily favor the European teams who regularly ran out winners in the CWC's previous "cup format" iteration. Real Madrid have won it five times, while Manchester City are the current title holders. It was last won by a team outside Europe in 2012 when the Brazilian team Corinthians captured the prize. Advertisement But the disparity in the odds is startling. The Europeans occupy 11 of the top 12 spots in the odds table, starting with Real Madrid at a 4.1-1. Meanwhile the most favored team outside of Europe is Brazil's Flamengo at 40-1. For those who like a an underdog, Australian team Auckland City are available at 2500-1. Tired legs provide hope to the rest of the world The thing that might tempt punters to look beyond Europe is the question mark as to how seriously European teams will take the event. Most are coming off a long hard season and certainly won't want to risk injuries to their star players. Still, the prize money is certainly worth competing for and Madrid are 'under new management' with Xabi Alonso taking over from Carlo Ancelotti. He'll surely want to make a good first impression along with new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold. Second favorites are Manchester City, who will be hoping to atone for their trophy-less season. Advertisement Here's the best price available for each team at time of going to press: Real Madrid (Spain) 4.1-1 Manchester City (England) 5-1 PSG (France) 5-1 Bayern Munich (Germany) 7-1 Chelsea (England) 10-1 Atletico Madrid (Spain 15-1 Inter Milan (Italy) 15-1 Juventus (Italy) 26-1 Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 28-1 Benfica (Portugal) 40-1 Porto (Portugal) 40-1 Flamengo (Brazil) 40-1 Palmeiras (Brazil) 50-1 Botafogo RJ (Brazil) 50-1 Al Hilal Saudi (Saudi Arabia) 66-1 River Plate (Argentina) 70-1 Inter Miami CF (USA) 75-1 Boca Juniors (Argentina) 80-1 Los Angeles FC (USA) 80-1 Salzburg (Austria) 125-1 Seattle Sounders FC (USA) 150-1 Fluminense (Brazil) 150-1 CF Pachuca (Mexico) 175-1 Al-Ain (UAE) 200-1 Ulsan HD (South Korea) 200-1 Al-Ahly (Egypt) 250-1 CF Monterrey (Mexico) 250-1 Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) 300-1 Wydad AC (Morocco) 500-1 Mamelodi Sundowns FC (South Africa) 750-1 Esperance de Tunis (Tunisia) 1000-1 Auckland City (Australia) 2500-1 The Golden Boot Meanwhile Kylian Mbappé is 5.5-1 to be top scorer followed closely by Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane. We don't have long to wait to find out how right - or wrong - the bookies are. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fiji set to challenge Wallabies before Lions series
Fiji are set to provide the Wallabies with a benchmark for their preparations for the British and Irish Lions after the Pacific islanders named a strong squad for their Test match in Newcastle next month. Fiji and Australia will meet on July 6 in Australia's only international before facing the Lions in a three-Test series beginning in Brisbane on July 19. It's the first time the teams have squared off since Fiji shocked the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, breaking a 69-year drought. The Fiji win helped send the Australians crashing out of the tournament at the pool stage. Coach Mick Byrne on Thursday announced a 32-member squad to face the Wallabies and also Scotland in Suva on July 12. While 13 players are from the Fijian Drua, who finished 10th in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition, Byrne has also selected 10 players based in France and five in England. The backline is set to include European stars such as Josua Tuisova (Racing 92), who scored a try in their World Cup win over Australia, Sireli Maqala (Bayonne) and Salesi Rayasi (Vannes). Former powerhouse NRL winger Semi Radradra, who plays for Lyon, is a notable omission. Veteran forwards Eroni Mawi (Saracens), Samuel Matavesi (Lyon), and Albert Tuisue (Gloucester) bolster a dominant forward pack. Tevita Ikanivere, Caleb Muntz, and Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki are among players named from the Drua after strong Super Rugby performances. "Both Australia and Scotland are established Tier One sides, and we know the level we need to rise to," Byrne said in a statement. "We've focused on combinations that give us both tactical adaptability and the trademark Fijian spirit. "We want to win but more importantly, we want to win playing our brand of rugby. "This squad reflects the depth, strength, and we will give a performance that will make all Fijians proud." Fiji squad: Forwards: Eroni Mawi, Luke Tagi, Haereiti Hetet, Mesake Doge, Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuel Mativesi, Kavaia Tagivetaua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Setareki Turagacoke, Viliame Mata, Elia Canakaivata, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue, Etonia Waqa, Motikai Murray. Backs: Simione Kuruvoli, Philip Baselala, Sam Wye, Caleb Muntz, Isaia Armstrong-Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu, Josua Tuisova, Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki, Sireli Maqala, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi.
