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Dimuth Karunaratne finsihed his Test career with 7222 runs and 39 fifties, 16 hundreds and a top-score of 244.
Dimuth Karunaratneplayed his last Test innings (AP)
Dimuth Karunaratne played his last inning in his 100th Test as he was dismissed by Matthew Kuhnemann during the second Test between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday.
The Sri Lanka star fell on the third ball of the 14th over Sri Lanka’s second innings as he edged behind to the keeper Alex Carey, which was confirmed by the UltraEdge.
Kuhnemann bowled a fuller one outside off as Karunaratne lunged to defend but the ball came in with the angle and went through to the keeper. Kuhnemann immediately went up for the caught behind appeal but Carey was not so certain and was focusing more on the stumping and appealing for that. Umpire Joel Wilson heard a noise and raised his finger. Karunaratne did seem confident while taking the review but technology deemed it otherwise.
Dimuth Karunaratne received a fist punch and a hug from his teammate, Dinesh Chandimal as he walked back with even the Australian players congratulating him on his career.
Arguably Sri Lanka’s best-ever Test opener, Karunaratne raised his bat while walking back to the dressing one last time as the entire Galle stadium stood up and applauded.
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Karunaratne had scored 36 in the first innings and finished with 7222 runs and 39 fifties, 16 hundreds and a top-score of 244.
Coming to the match, Steve Smith and Carey powered Australia to a formidable 414 in their first innings. Their record-breaking 259-run partnership handed the visitors a commanding 157-run first-innings lead, as they were bowled out just seven minutes before lunch on day three.
The Australian captain and his wicketkeeper put on the highest fourth-wicket stand by a visiting pair on Sri Lankan soil.
They edged past the 258-run alliance between Michael Hussey and Shaun Marsh at Pallekele in 2011 by just one run.
Smith was the bedrock of the innings, anchoring one end with solid strokes, while Carey provided the fireworks. The left-hander played with fearless intent, sweeping and reverse-sweeping the Sri Lankan spinners behind square.
His career-best innings of 156 eclipsed Adam Gilchrist’s highest score for an Australian wicketkeeper in Asia, surpassing the swashbuckling left-hander’s 144 in Kandy (2004) and 144 in Fatullah (2006).
(With inputs from Agencies)
