Newly crowned ODI World Cup winners Australia toured Sri Lanka. Steve Waugh and his side were touring the Island nation for a Tri-series which included hosts Sri Lanka and India. Sanath Jayasuriya and his side won the tournament by beating Australia in the finals by 5 wickets.
Ahead of the first Test to be played in Kandy, Sri Lanka had never won a Test match against Australia. In the previous 10 Test matches, Australia had won 7 Test matches and drawn three Tests,
Sri Lanka had played Australia at home 4 times and had lost two games and drawn 2 matches. As the series moved to Kandy the former ODI World Cup winners were hungry to set the record straight against the Australian side.
Sri Lanka beat Australia in dramatic Test match in Kandy
Steve Waugh won the toss and chose to bat first and was left ruing the decision. Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa reduced the visiting side to 40/5 inside 19 overs. Michael Slater and Greg Blewett were out for ducks. Justin Langer and Mark Waugh were out for 7 and 6 while Steve Waugh scored 19 off 35 balls.
Ricky Ponting then scored 96 while Jason Gillespie scored 41 to help the visiting side reach 188. Zoysa and Vaas picked 3 wickets each while Muralitharan picked 4 wickets for the home team.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 234 with Aravinda De Silva top-scored with 78. Shane Warne was the best bowler for Australia with 5/52 while Colin Miller picked 4/62. Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie were involved in a horrific injury during the 1st innings.
Mahela Jayawardene went for a huge shot as Steve Waugh and Jason Gillespie ran in to catch the ball. The two players didn’t see each other coming and there was no call to take the catch. In the end, Gillespie’s knee hit Steve Waugh on his nose as both the players lay down writhing in pain. The duo were taken to a local hospital before missing the rest of the tour.
Trailing by 46 runs and with just 9 players in the team, Australia were all out for 140 in the 2nd innings. Ricky Ponting scored his second fifty of the game as Greg Blewett scored 14 and Michael Slater scored 27.
Needing 95 runs to win, the home team lost Marvan Atapattu early for a duck to Glenn Mcgrath. Collin Miller then got the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene and Romesh Kaluwitharana to give the visitors some hope. Old heads Aravinda De Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga though ensured Sri Lanka won the game by 6 wickets as the pair stayed not out.