Australia, which is in the process of re-building its team, scored a comprehensive 105-run victory over Sri Lanka with more than a day to spare in the first test of the Warne-Muralidaran trophy series here.
Mahela Jayawardene (105), who has a special relationship with the Galle ground, partnered Anjelo Mathews (95), and stood in the way of the victory for much of the morning session. The pair even managed to touch the highest fourth innings total at Galle (210), but even that proved inadequate. The Sri Lankan second innings wound up for 253.

In the second innings, Sri Lankan top-order batsmen heeded their coach's advice: they refused to gift their wicket to debutant spinner Nathan Lyon, Instead, they gifted it to Ryan Harris. Later, once Mahela and Anjelo settled down, the plan seemed quite plain: go after Lyon when there is a chance. Mahela even played the 'Dil scoop' against Lyon because of the bounce that Lyon managed to extract from the wicket. Anjelo hoisted Lyon for a six over mid-on. But the pair was more watchful against Copeland, who made the batsmen play most of his deliveries.

In hindsight, Michael Hussey’s patient 95, for which he was named Man-of-the-Match, in the first innings, made the difference between the two teams. Plus, most Australian batsmen, including the remarkably resilient lower order contributed to the score in both the innings. The Sri Lankan tail is too long, and, if a couple of their frontline batsmen fail, the side could collapse. This was seen in the first innings where the side seemed to have given up once Mahela Jayawardene was run out.
The second test begins in Pallekele on September 8.

SCOREBOARD:
Australia (1st innings): 273 all out
Sri Lanka Batting (1st innings): 105 all out
Australia (2nd innings): 210 all out

Sri Lanka Batting (2nd innings): T.M.Dilshan b Harris 12, T. Paranavitana lbw Harris 0, K. Sangakkara c Hussey b Watson 17, M. Jayawardene b Harris 105, T. Samaraweera c Haddin b Johnson 0, P. Jayawardene b R. Harris 0, A. Mathews b Watson 95, S. Randiv c Clarke b Johnson 0, R. Herath c Copeland b Harris 12, S. Lakmal c Johnson b Lyon 5, C. Welegedara (not out) 4. Extras (b-1,lb-1, w-1) 3. Total 253 in 95.5 overs

Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-15, 3-52, 4-63, 5-68, 6-210, 7-221, 8-242, 9-249

Australia Bowling (2nd innings): Harris 20-5-62-5, Copeland 16-6-20-0, Johnson 19-6-56-2, Lyon 19.5-2-73-1, Clarke 6-0-16-0, Watson 13-6-19-2, Ponting 2-0-5-0