Unrelenting accuracy from Australia’s versatile attack and superb tactics from stand-in captain Steven Smith had Sri Lanka in trouble on day one of the second Test as the dry surface in Galle started to produce significant turn.

Sri Lanka built a strong platform at 93 for 1 before losing 4 for 34 to reach tea in a precarious position at 144 for 5 in their first innings. Dinesh Chandimal was again playing a lone hand with 70 not out.

After Sri Lanka suffered their worst defeat in Test cricket on a slow surface, there had been much speculation that this new surface would produce significant bite and turn. There was sharper turn in the second session, but it has been the consistency and variations of Australia’s bowlers that led to several cheap dismissals.

Offspinner Nathan Lyon was outstanding as he mixed up his speeds and lengths to bamboozle Sri Lanka as he moved to 549 Test wickets, while left-arm quick Mitchell Starc found reverse swing during a sensational spell late in the second session.

Left-arm spinning allrounder Cooper Connolly has only bowled two overs after replacing offspinner Todd Murphy in Australia’s only change.

Australia were effectively playing with just three specialist bowlers, but allrounder Beau Webster has bowled three overs of seam having not been required to bowl in the first Test. Smith worked his resources to good effect with Travis Head proving that he might just have a golden arm after taking the wicket of Kamindu Mendis.

Sri Lanka made three changes with Pathum Nissanka replacing Oshada Fernando at the top of the order, while offspinnser Ramesh Mendis and quick Lahiru Kumara were included at the expense of Jeffrey Vandersay and Asitha Fernando.

Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva had no hesitation to bat when the coin fell in his favour amid stifling humidity.

After receiving a long guard of honour on his way to the crease, including from the Australians, retiring Dimuth Karunaratne was tasked with trying to help restore Sri Lanka’s battered confidence in his 100th and last match. He also had to confront tormentor Starc having fallen to him nine times previously, including in the first innings of the series-opener. But having overcome a groin injury to take his place, Nissanka mostly faced Starc and had mixed results against speeds touching 145kph.

Fresh from his nine-wicket haul in his Test return, left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was also handed the new ball and had a loud shout for lbw on Nissanka turned down with the decision upheld on umpire’s call after Australia reviewed.

Sri Lanka’s openers steadily built despite some nervous moments as Smith reverted to Lyon in the eighth over. Aiming at the footworks from Starc, Lyon produced significant turn and bounce on his second delivery that flew down the legside for four byes.

But Lyon wasn’t made to wait long for a wicket after hitting the top of leg stump when Nissanka moved too far across his stumps looking to paddle sweep. Australia were buoyed, but inroads proved difficult against the type of disciplined batting from Sri Lanka that was lacking in the first Test.

Brief scores:[Day 1 Tea]
Sri Lanka 144 for 5 in 58 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 70*, Dimuth Karunaratne 36; Nathan Lyon 3-47) vs Australia

[Cricinfo]