Australia Crushes Sri Lanka by Innings, 242 Runs in Test Opener

Australia achieved a historic victory against Sri Lanka in the first Test of the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, winning by an innings and 242 runs at Galle International Stadium, marking Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat in Test cricket. Usman Khawaja led the charge with a remarkable 232 runs, supported by Steve Smith's 141 and Josh Inglis's 102, allowing Australia to declare at 654 runs. The Australian bowlers, particularly Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon, dominated the Sri Lankan batting line-up, with Kuhnemann taking nine wickets across the match. After enforcing the follow-on, Sri Lanka collapsed dramatically, losing five wickets for just nine runs in their second innings, ultimately bowled out for 247. This victory not only underscores Australia's cricketing prowess but also reflects a significant struggle for Sri Lanka, who failed to mount any meaningful resistance throughout the match. The second Test is set to commence on February 6.