NEW DELHI: Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey etched his name in the record books by becoming the first from his team to score 150 runs in Asian conditions.
This feat surpassed the previous highest score of 144 runs by the legendary Adam Gilchrist in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Carey achieved this milestone during Australia’s first innings on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
In the 87th over, Carey reached the 150-run mark by paddle-sweeping a delivery from Prabath Jayasuriya, a feat he had never accomplished in first-class cricket before.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
However, his innings came to an end in the 93rd over when Prabath dismissed him for 156 runs off 188 balls, which included 15 fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 82.98.
Carey’s century in Asia also made him the second Australian wicketkeeper-batter after Gilchrist to achieve this feat. His performance played a crucial role in Australia’s first innings total of 330/3 at the end of day two, giving them a lead of 73 runs over Sri Lanka’s first innings score of 257.
Sri Lanka’s innings was anchored by half-centuries from Kusal Mendis (85) and Dinesh Chandimal (74), while Mitchell Starc (3/27), Matthew Kuhnemann (3/63), and Nathan Lyon (3/96) were the pick of the Australian bowlers.
Australia lost early wickets, but centuries from Carey and Steve Smith (120 not out) helped them take a substantial lead.
Australia’s first-innings lead has exceeded the 100-run mark, setting the stage for an intriguing contest between the two teams in the remaining days of the Test.