Sri Lanka Vs Australia, 2nd Test: Kuhnemann, Lyon Put Tourists In Winning Position After Day 3

Australia put on a clinical display on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, leaving the hosts teetering at 211-8 and holding a slender lead of just 54 runs on Saturday, February 8, 2025. The visitors will try to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings early on the fourth morning and chase down the target in a bid to complete a 2-0 series sweep. Angelo Mathews played a gutsy knock of 76, his first half-century of the series, offering a glimmer of hope. But the Aussies continued to chip away, with left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann finishing with four wickets and taking his match tally to seven. He was well supported by Lyon, whose three-wicket haul saw him turn the ball square on a deteriorating surface.

Photo Webdesk

Updated on: 8 February 2025 12:00 pm

Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Alex Carey

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Alex Carey plays a shot | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Alex Carey plays a shot during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Steven Smith

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Steven Smith reacts after being dismissed | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Steven Smith reacts after being dismissed during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Alex Carey celebrates scoring one hundred and fifty runs | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Alex Carey celebrates scoring one hundred and fifty runs during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Josh Inglis

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Josh Inglis is bowled out | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Josh Inglis is bowled out during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Beau Webster

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Beau Webster plays a shot | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Beau Webster plays a shot during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Alex Carey leaves the ground after losing his wicket | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Alex Carey leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Nishan Peiris

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris celebrates the wicket of Australia's Cooper Connolly | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris celebrates the wicket of Australia's Cooper Connolly during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Mitchell Starc

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Mitchell Starc plays a shot | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Mitchell Starc plays a shot during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Matthew Kuhnemann

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka with teammates during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Dinesh Chandimal

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal plays a shot | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal plays a shot during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Josh Inglis fields a ball | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Josh Inglis fields a ball during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Kamindu Mendis

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis plays a shot | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis plays a shot during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Nathan Lyon

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Angelo Mathews

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews celebrates his fifty runs | Phtoo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews celebrates his fifty runs during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Steven Smith celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Steven Smith celebrates taking a catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews plays a shot | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews plays a shot during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka and Australia Cricket SL Vs AUS 2nd Test Day 3 photos from Galle: Kusal Mendis

SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis plays a shot | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis plays a shot during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.

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SL Vs AUS, 2nd Test Day 3: Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena

Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya during day three of the second test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle, Sri Lanka.