Khawaja, Smith Lead Australia to 261-2 in Galle Test

On the opening day of the first Test match against Sri Lanka, Usman Khawaja scored an impressive unbeaten 119, marking his 16th Test century and his first on Sri Lankan soil. His innings was characterized by a blend of caution and aggression, helping Australia to a strong position at 261-2 by tea. Khawaja's achievement ended a 17-match drought since his last century during the Ashes in June 2023. Stand-in captain Steve Smith also made headlines by crossing the 10,000 Test run milestone, becoming the 15th player in history to do so. The duo shared a vital unbeaten partnership of 126 runs for the third wicket, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowlers, while Travis Head contributed a brisk 57 runs earlier in the innings. Sri Lanka failed to capitalize on some dropped chances, further compounding their struggles on the field.