Watch: Kusal Mendis avoids a nasty injury after Matthew Kuhnemann collision in 2nd Test

Wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis played a key role in helping Sri Lanka recover from an early setback in the second Test against Australia in Galle. However, Kusal Mendis narrowly avoided a serious injury after colliding with Australian spin bowler Matthew Kuhnemann on the first day of the match.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first on Thursday. Nathan Lyon gave Australia the first breakthrough in the eighth over, dismissing Pathum Nissanka for 11. Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal steadied the innings. However, Sri Lanka collapsed from 93/1 and lost half their side for just 127.

Watch: Kusal Mendis Narrowly Avoids Serious Injury

Kusal Mendis came in to bat at No. 7 on Day 1 of the match. During the first innings, he narrowly avoided injury after a collision with Australia spinner Matthew Kuhnemann.

The incident occurred just after Dinesh Chandimal's dismissal in the 61st over. Mendis tried to take a single after Ramesh Mendis nudged it into the onside, but Kuhnemann ran into Kusal while fielding. Neither player was seriously injured, and both returned to the game shortly after.

You can watch the video of the incident below:

Bit happening here between Kuhnemann and Kusal Mendis 😅🫣#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/yDKW2Kiahf

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 6, 2025

Australia Fights Back with the Second New Ball

Kusal and Ramesh Mendis formed a crucial 65-run seventh-wicket stand. However, Australia fought back with the second new ball. Mitchell Starc dismissed Ramesh and Prabath Jayasuriya in consecutive deliveries in the 84th over. Steve Smith took his 197th Test catch, surpassing Ricky Ponting’s record.

Matthew Kuhnemann then removed Nishan Peiris for a third-ball duck, but Kusal Mendis (58*) and Lahiru Kumara (0*) managed to survive until stumps. Dinesh Chandimal also contributed with a valuable 74 as Sri Lanka managed 229 runs for the loss of nine wickets at the end of Day 1 of the ongoing match.

Kusal Mendis Falls Just Short of a Well-Deserved Century in Sri Lanka’s First Innings

Sri Lanka added 28 runs to their overnight total of 229/9 and were bowled out for 257 on Friday. Kusal played a gritty knock of 85 runs, featuring 10 fours and a six—the highest score by a Sri Lankan in the series.

Mendis, supported by the last man Lahiru Kumara, fell just short of a well-deserved century. Kumara played a crucial role by surviving at the crease before being dismissed by Matthew Kuhnemann, who took his third wicket. Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Kuhnemann each finished with three wickets for Australia.

Kuhnemann delivered an exceptional performance in the first Test, taking nine wickets in Australia’s dominant innings victory. The win gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the series, ensuring they retained the Warne-Murali Trophy. Sri Lanka suffered their heaviest defeat in Test history, losing by an innings and 242 runs.

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