Thu Jan 30 08:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Aussie Centurions Khawaja and Smith Dominate Day 1 in Galle
**Galle, Sri Lanka:** Australia seized control on Day 1 of the first Test against Sri Lanka, thanks to stunning centuries from Usman Khawaja (147*) and Steve Smith (104*). The tourists ended the day comfortably positioned at 330/2, leaving Sri Lanka with a mountain to climb.
Travis Head provided a blistering start, smashing a 57-run cameo off just 40 balls, including three fours in the opening over. His aggressive innings laid the foundation for Khawaja and Smith’s dominance. While Head fell to long-on, Khawaja and Smith punished Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, capitalizing on dropped catches and missed review opportunities.
Sri Lanka’s spinners, employing a strategy of bowling outside the leg stump, failed to contain the Australian pair. Khawaja, in particular, was given several lives, surviving a dropped catch at slip and a missed review for a faint edge. Smith also benefited from a dropped catch early in his innings. Despite a period of slow scoring, the Australians consistently rotated the strike, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Smith reached his 35th Test century with a three, while Khawaja calmly compiled his century with a flick to fine leg. Rain intervened shortly after the hosts took the new ball, bringing a premature end to the day’s play. However, the damage had already been done, with Australia firmly in the driver’s seat heading into Day 2. Jeffrey Vandersay (1-93) and Prabath Jayasuriya (1-102) were the wicket-takers for Sri Lanka.
First Piper 