Live Score

AUS won by an innings and 242 runs

3:13 PM IST & Local Time: There it is!! Australia have done it. They thrashed Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs to register one of their biggest wins in Asia. It was supposed to be a nightmare of a pitch for the visitors, but in the end, the hosts found themselves in a hole. Once Australia posted 654 batting first, there was only one winner. Sri Lanka were chasing the game and failed to keep out the Australian spinners.

Earlier in the match, Australia won the toss and opted to bat. Travis Head and Usman Khawaja took the attack to the spinners and put the pressure back on Sri Lanka early in the match. 

Head scored a quick-fire fifty but Khawaja played a marathon knock and brought up his maiden double ton in Tests. 

Captain Steve Smith came to the party as well. He got to the 10,000-run mark and celebrated the milestone with a century, scoring 142. Josh Inglis, playing his first Test, scored a century at a strike rate of over 100. Australia declared their first innings at 654/6. 

Sri Lanka in their first innings were bowled out for 165. Matthew Kuhnemann picked up a five-wicket haul while Nathan Lyon bagged three. Mitchell Strac picked up a couple of wickets.

In the second innings, Lyon and Kuhnemann bagged four wickets each. Most of the batters got starts but failed to convert it into a big one.

Jeffrey Vandersay was the top-scorer, smashing a half-century. He made 53 off 47 balls before losing his wicket. Stay tuned for the post-match presentation.

Biggest Margin of Loss for Sri Lanka in Tests:

Innings & 242 runs v Australia at Galle, TODAY*

Innings & 239 runs v India at Nagpur, 2017

Innings & 229 runs v South Africa at Cape Town, 2001

Innings & 222 runs v Pakistan at SSC Colombo, 2023

Innings & 222 runs v India at Mohali, 2022

Innings & 208 runs v South Africa at SSC Colombo, 1993

Biggest Test Wins for Australia:

Innings & 360 runs v South Africa at Johannesburg, 2002

Innings & 332 runs v England at Brisbane, 1946

Innings & 259 runs v South Africa at Gqeberha, 1950

Innings & 242 runs v Sri Lanka at Galle, TODAY*

Innings & 226 runs v India at Brisbane, 1947

This is Australia's biggest win in Asia! Previous best was a win by an Innings & 198 runs against Pakistan at Sharjah in 2002.

Player of the Match: Usman Khawaja

Usman Khawaja (Player of the Match): "I am very grateful to get to play cricket for Australia. Nice to score some runs and contribute to the win. Galle is always a tough place for us. Nice to get a good start.

Everyone says that, a month ago I was on top of the world too. Cricket is a team game, you want to score again but it is not possible. Hopefully, when you don't score, someone else does. When they don't score, you do. That's the point of being a great team.

I was happy with the 3-1 win against India. It was tough work and we were all very tired but to come here and start the series well, we are happy with it. 

I have got my own plans. I am 38 and this is my 5th trip to Sri Lanka. I have played in Sri Lanka a lot and made all mistakes that I know I can. I know there are some ways I am happy to get out and some ways I am not. I just work around that."

Dhananjaya de Silva (Sri Lanka Captain): "Well, yes. It was very important as you can see. (on toss) Chasing 600-plus runs in these conditions is never easy.

Wicket wasn't that hard but it wasn't easy. The odd ball was turning. Jeffrey batted well but other batters have to put their hands up and get the big runs. 

Yes of course, losing hurts always. Four catches dropped, we got our chances but we didn't take them. 

We have to put our bodies on the line to beat these champion sides. They are in the WTC final, they proved they are the best. We have to bring our A-game to the final Test to beat them."

Steve Smith (Australia Captain): "It worked out well. We started the Test match beautifully. Usman and Trav at the top really set the tone. Usman's innings was outstanding to get his first double hundred. The way Usman went about it, the shots he played, the pressure he put on the bowlers was outstanding. Throughout that innings we had plenty of good partnerships. To get 650 allowed us to bowl twice. Starcy did well to start with the ball and the spinners did a good job throughout as well.

The surface broke up. The first day didn't reflect the score. It was a bit tacky. We batted exceptionally well. Gave us a chance to press the game and moved in the position we wanted to. The bowlers bowled really well in tandem. Tried to rotate and keep the guys as fresh as possible. Whenever they looked like getting a little bit tired, gave them a rest and the next guy came in.

Every surface is different. We have got wonderful fast bowlers who can do the job for us really well. On this occasion 3 spinners worked out together nicely. It was a great win.

Never thought I would score this many runs. Playing just 1 Test for Australia was a dream growing up and playing over 100 Tests and scoring as many runs is a dream come true. It was nice to contribute in this game with a hundred as well."

That's it from our coverage of this Test match. Everyone thought it would be a one-sided affair, but this is not the result anyone saw coming. Australia smashed their way to a mammoth first-innings total of 654, and then bowled Sri Lanka out twice in 106.5 overs to take an unassailable 1-0 lead in this short two-Test series. We will be back with the second Test, which starts on Thursday (February 6).

This is Ajay Pal Singh signing off on behalf of my colleagues Ninaad Dixit and Bishal Mandal. Goodbye!