Cricket

SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 2: Steve Smith, Alex Carey Score Centuries As Australia Take Control - Data Debrief

Australia first had to round off Sri Lanka's innings, though, with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann dismissing Lahiru Kumara after the hosts had added 28 to their overnight total to finish on 257 all out

SL Vs AUS Steve Smith Alex Carey
Steve Smith and Alex Carey put Australia in control
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Steve Smith and Alex Carey were in cruise control as Australia raced into a 73-run lead over Sri Lanka at the end of day two. (More Cricket News)

Having won the first Test in emphatic fashion, Australia showed similar prowess with the bat on Friday in Galle.

The tourists first had to round off Sri Lanka's innings, though, with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann dismissing Lahiru Kumara after the hosts had added 28 to their overnight total to finish on 257 all out.

Early dismissals of Travis Head (21) and Marnus Labuschagne (four) put Sri Lanka on the front foot, but Smith, who survived an lbw review from the first ball he faced, and Usman Khawaja stopped the rot.

Khawaja fell to Nishan Peiris (2-70) on 36, though that led to the introduction of Carey – Australia did not look back from there.

Carey plundered an unbeaten 139 from just 156 deliveries, while at the other end, Smith plodded his way to a 36th Test century to finish the day on 120 not out.

The duo will be in place again at the start of day three, which Australia will begin on 330-3, as Sri Lanka must look to keep within touching distance if they are to prevent this Test getting away from them.

Data Debrief: Sensational Smith 

Smith surpassed 10,000 Test runs in the first match of this series, and the stand-in Australia captain has now drawn level with Joe Root and Rahul Dravid on 36 tons in the longest format.

Only Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45), Ricky Ponting (41) and Kumar Sangakkara (38) have scored more Test centuries.

Smith has taken just 206 innings to reach the milestone, with only former Australia captain Ponting having struck 36 tons in fewer innings (200).

The 35-year-old also has the most Test centuries in Asia among Australian men, with seven, having now gone ahead of Allan Border (six).

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