|| Desk Report ||

A 308-run stand in the fourth wicket between opener Joe Burns and wicketkeeper-batsmen Travis Head handed Australia a solid position in the opening day of the second and final Test in Canberra on Friday. The hosts collected 384 runs with four wickets loss at stumps.

Joe Burns and Travis Head smashed big hundreds to end Aussies’ century drought. Burns scored Australia's first century of the season whereas Head brought up his first Test hundred. The opener, who had scored his last Test hundred against New Zealand in early 2016, was unbeaten on a career-best 172. On the other hand, the wicketkeeper Head claimed his maiden Test ton before he was out on 161, following up on his 84 in the victory in Brisbane last week.

Earlier, Australia captain Tim Paine won the toss second time in last nine Tests and decided to bat first. But, Sri Lanka’s new pace attack with the injured Suranga Lakmal joining Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara frustrates Australia in the beginning.

Left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando struck twice in two overs to dismiss opener Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja with his deliveries. Debutant Chamika Karunaratne, then picked up a wicket with only his fourth delivery in Test cricket, getting Marnus Labuschagne (6) to edge behind.

But Burns and Head take the charge in fourth wicket-stand. As the new ball lost its shine and the Lankan pacemen their swing, the batting pair grew in confidence and upped their scoring rate.

Burns has hit 26 fours in his unfinished 243-ball knock. On the other hand, Head looked assured during his stay at the crease and hit 21 fours and a six in his 204-ball knock. Travis Head scored 161 before becoming Fernando’s third victim.  Joe Burns (172*) with Kurtis Patterson (25*) was on the wicket at the end of the day. Meanwhile, Australia lead the series 1-0 with their first Test win in Brisbane by an innings and 40 runs.

Australia: 384/4 (87 Overs) Burns 172*, Head 161, Fernando 99-3