Khawaja 119*, Smith 64* deflate Sri Lanka in afternoon session

Stand-in captain Steven Smith scored his 10,000th Test run before compiling a majestic half-century, while Usman Khawaja reached his 16th ton as Australia were rewarded for an aggressive approach against a spin-heavy Sri Lanka attack on a slow Galle surface.

Australia moved to a dominant position on the opening day of the series after a wicketless second session. Khawaja and Smith have combined for an unbroken third-wicket 126-run partnership to capitalise on the batting-friendly conditions.

Smith, who averaged 66 in 38 previous Tests as captain, reached his half-century in 57 balls before slowing down before tea.

He had been perched on 9999 runs after agonisingly falling short of the landmark in the fifth Test against India on his SCG home ground.

But Smith reached the milestone on his first delivery just before lunch with a flick to mid-on to join Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh as the only Australians to achieve the milestone. He earned a strong ovation from his teammates and the jovial Australia fans in the terraces as he celebrated with a modest wave of the bat.

Brief scores: [Day 1 Tea]
Australia 261 for 2 in 60 overs (Usman Khawaja 119*, Steven Smith 64*, Travis Head 57, Jeffrey Vandersay 1-67, Prabath Jayasuriya 1-88) vs Sri Lanka

[Cricinfo]