Sri Lanka v Australia: Local demonstrators engulf Galle’s iconic stadium

Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka has played out amid the backdrop of social and economic unrest and on Saturday the tourists witnessed the tension first hand, with protestors surrounding the Galle cricket stadium to get the world’s attention. 

Locals were barred from watching the second Test atop the 500-year-old fort overlooking the cricket ground, yet that did not prevent a large group of protestors gathering to vent their frustration with economic conditions and societal problems in Sri Lanka.

Australia star Steve Smith was at the crease when the protestors made their way onto the fort and Cricket Australia denied army assertions that protesters had previously been removed so as not to distract their players. Smith is understood to have had more issues with the DJ inside the ground during his innings. 

Local demonstrators climbed atop a 500-year-old fort to protest during Australia’s match

The turbulence unfolding in Sri Lanka has not escaped the attention of the Australian players but have thus far not impacted their tour. 

Australia collapsed on the second day of the second Test in Galle to be all out for 364, with Sri Lanka’s debutant Prabath Jayasuriya claiming six wickets.

After getting to 5-329 and with century-maker Steve Smith unbeaten, Australia lost their last five wickets for just 35 runs as Jayasuriya ran through the tail.

Sri Lanka then went to lunch at 0-8 after getting through the first three overs from Australia’s quicks.

The Aussies’ tour of Sri Lanka has played out to a backdrop of social and economic unrest

Steve Smith ended the first innings unbeaten as the Australians set a total of 364 runs

In reality, the hosts need someone to play an innings of the quality of Smith’s to avoid a 2-0 series loss on home soil.

Smith finished 145 not out, after bringing up his first century in exactly 18 months on day one.

When he and Carey resumed at 5-298 on Saturday, it appeared as if Australia could build to a big score.

But the morning’s play swung considerably when Carey reverse-swept Jayasuriya to Ramesh Mendis at a deep point on 28.

Sri Lanka are looking to draw level in the series after losing last week’s first Test

Smith carried on, producing another brilliant on-drive to the long-on boundary off Jayasuriya.

But at the other end, wickets continued to fall as quickly as protesters circled the outskirts of the ground amid Sri Lanka’s current economic crisis.

Mitchell Starc (1) was caught at first slip by Kusal Mendis off Jayasuriya, Nathan Lyon (5) trapped lbw by the left-arm finger-spinner and Pat Cummins (5) was also lbw to quick Kasun Rajitha.

Smith then controlled the strike to take more time out of the game on a wearing wicket, before Mitchell Swepson became debutant Maheesh Theekshana’s first Test wicket when he was lbw for three.

Jayasuriya’s figures of 6-118 are the second best by a Sri Lankan on debut in Test history, having also got the key wicket of Marnus Labuschagne for 104 on the opening day with one that turned sharply.