Usman Khawaja's maiden double century, along with impressive centuries from Steve Smith and Josh Inglis, propelled Australia to a remarkable position at the conclusion of the second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. The team posted their highest-ever total in Asia, finishing the day with 654/6 declared.
At day's end, Sri Lanka found themselves at 44/3, with Dinesh Chandimal (9*) and Kamindu Mendis (13*) not out, facing a daunting deficit of 610 runs.
Australia resumed play at 330/2, with Khawaja (130*) and Smith (104*) continuing their innings. The pair provided no relief for the Sri Lankan bowlers, quickly establishing a 200-run partnership, with Khawaja reaching 150 runs off 223 balls, including 10 fours and a six.
Sri Lankan bowlers Nishan Peiris, Prabath Jayasuriya, and Jeffrey Vandersay struggled to contain the Australian batsmen, who frequently found the boundary. Australia crossed the 400-run mark in just 99.1 overs.
The partnership of 266 runs between Khawaja and Smith was finally broken by Vandersay, who dismissed Smith leg-before-wicket for 141 runs off 251 balls, featuring 12 fours and two sixes, leaving Australia at 401/3 in 99.5 overs.
Next to bat was debutant Inglis, who marked his Test debut with a boundary off Vandersay on his very first ball. As Inglis accumulated runs against the spinners, Khawaja made history by scoring his first Test double century in 290 balls, hitting 16 fours and a six.
Australia concluded the first session at 475/3, with Khawaja (204*) and Inglis (44*) still at the crease.
In the second session, Inglis celebrated reaching fifty runs off 51 balls, including five boundaries.
Australia crossed the 500-run threshold in 118.5 overs, with both batsmen contributing to a century partnership in just 116 balls.
Inglis was on the verge of his first Test century when Australia encountered a setback with Khawaja's dismissal for 232 runs off 352 balls, featuring 16 fours and a six. He was caught behind by Kusal Mendis off a delivery from Jayasuriya, leaving Australia at 547/4 in 128.3 overs.
Inglis became the 21st Australian to achieve a century on Test debut, reaching the milestone in only 90 balls, with 10 fours and a six. However, his innings came to an end when he offered a straightforward catch to Kamindu Mendis at cover off another Jayasuriya delivery, concluding his 94-ball innings at 102 runs. Australia was then at 570/5 in 133 overs.
All-rounder Beau Webster and wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey took to the crease, helping Australia surpass the 600-run mark in 142.4 overs.
Webster was dismissed by Vandersay after contributing 23 runs off 50 balls, following a partnership of 59 runs. Australia stood at 629/6 in 149.2 overs.
Australia declared their innings at 654/6, with Carey remaining not out on 46 runs from 69 balls, including a four, and Mitchell Starc on 19 runs from 19 balls, with two fours and a six. This total surpassed the previous record of 617 set against Pakistan in Faisalabad in 1980, marking their highest score in Asia.
In Sri Lanka's first innings, the hosts endured a disastrous start, losing Oshada Fernando for 7 runs leg-before-wicket to Matthew Kuhnemann, Dimuth Karunaratne for 7 runs caught by Nathan McSweeney off Starc—who achieved his 700th international wicket—and Angelo Matthews for 8 runs to Lyon.
Kamindu and Chandimal ensured that Sri Lanka concluded the day without losing any additional wickets.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka: 44/3 (Kamindu Mendis 13*, Dinesh Chandimal 9*, Nathan Lyon 1/7) trails Australia: 654/6 declared (Usman Khawaja 232, Steve Smith 141, Jeffrey Vandersay 3/182) by 610 runs.
