More forecast rain in Galle is all that stands between crumbling Sri Lanka and an embarrassing early defeat in the opening Test again.

Multiple bursts of torrential rain in what is historically the driest month in the southern part of the island saw play curtailed shortly before lunch, then officially abandoned at 3.30pm with Sri Lanka 5-136 in reply to Australia's daunting first innings of 6 (dec)-654.

Australia have piled up 654/6d in their first innings to which the hosts Sri Lanka are reeling at 44/3 at the end of day's play on day 2 of the 1st Test between both the teams. SL's Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal were at the crease and will require to do the bulk of the work when day 3 action resumes in Galle on Friday.

Australian pacer Mitchell Starc became the fourth Aussie bowler to achieve 700 international wickets during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. This milestone cements his place among Australia's leading wicket-takers across all formats,

Khawaja’s 266-run third-wicket partnership with Steve Smith, who hit 141 in a landmark innings that got the stand-in skipper to 10,000 Test runs, stood out after Australia elected to bat first at the start of the two-match series.

Rain ruined Australia’s hopes of moving in for the kill against Sri Lanka on day three of the first Test in Galle but

Follow the LIVE Updates from Day 3 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Australia being played at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka is staring down the barrel at 44-3 after Australia achieved its largest ever total in Asia — 654-6 declared — on day two of the first test in Galle.

Sri Lanka are still 518 runs behind and will need a Herculean effort to avoid the follow-on even though more rain is forecast for Saturday.

Dinesh Chandimal's unbeaten half-century and persistent rain in Galle delayed Australia's push for victory in the opening test against Sri Lanka on Friday. Only a 27-over session was

This was a sigh of relief for Sri Lanka, who continued to struggle against the Australian ... getting two big wickets before the interruption due to rain. Mitchell Starc and Matthew Kuhnemann have been the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets apiece.