GALLE: Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal was waging a lone battle on 63 with Australia ahead by 518 runs and tightening their grip on the first Test before rain forced early lunch Friday. The hosts were 136-5 by the first break on day three in Galle with wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis also at the crease on 10 after losing two more wickets overnight.

Dinesh Chandimal’s unbeaten half-century and persistent rain in Galle delayed Australia’s push for victory in the opening Test against Sri Lanka on Friday.

After dominating the first two and a half days of the opening Test against Sri Lanka, Australia found itself battling an unexpected adversary — Galle’s unpredictable sub-tropical weather.

Day 2 saw Australia post a huge 654/6 declared in their first innings. Riding on a double century from Usman Khawaja (232), Australia had centurions in the form of Josh Inglis (102) and skipper Steve Smith (141). In reply, the hosts found themselves at 44/3 at stumps on day 2.

Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis were relieved by the sight of rain, with Sri Lanka being stopped at 136-5, trailing by 518 runs

Get here the detailed live cricket scorecard of Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st Test 1/29/2025, SLtour of AUS , Warne-Muralitharan Trophy, 2025 at Galle International Stadium, Galle on IndiaToday.in.

In the past 15 years, Australia has only enforced the follow-on five times, with acting skipper Smith in command for one of those matches, a win over the West Indies in Hobart in 2015. But it may be Australia's clearest path to victory against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka were 136-5 by lunch in Galle, with wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis also at the crease on 10, after losing two more wickets from their overnight 44-3.

Incessant afternoon rain forced an early end to day three on Friday, with Australia leading by 518 runs and former home skipper Dinesh Chandimal waging a lone battle. It means Sri Lanka will resume at 5-136, with Chandimal unbeaten on 63 and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis at the crease on 10.

Rex Clementine in Galle Only 27 overs of the scheduled 98 were possible on the third day of the first Test in Galle on Friday, but Australia tightened their grip on the contest, reducing Sri Lanka to 136 for five.

Spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has praised Steve Smith for a "genius" move against Sri Lanka but brushed off suggestions the Aussie skipper batted too long in the first innings after rain washed out most of Friday's play.