A frightening injury to Sri Lanka opener Dimuth Karunaratne overshadowed other events on the field as Australia dominated the second day of the second Test between the sides on Saturday, 2 February.
Karunaratne was hit by a bouncing delivery on his helmet and was taken off the field at Manuka Oval on a motorised stretcher. He was later shown being taken to a hospital by ambulance.
While in obvious discomfort, Karunaratne was conscious throughout the episode, and could be seen talking to the medical professionals assisting him.
Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha allayed fears around the 30-year-old batsman’s health after the end of day’s play.
“He’s in the hospital at the moment and he’s in good spirits. He’s being assessed, there’s no danger at the moment. He was talking to us before he was leaving as well.”Chandika Hathurusingha, Sri Lanka coach
Karunaratne crumpled to the ground after ducking into a Pat Cummins bouncer which rocketed into the back of his helmet after the tea break. He retired hurt on 46 and play was delayed for close to 15 minutes while medical officials from both teams attended to the batsman.
The medial staff put a brace around the injured batsman’s neck, and drove him off the field after gently transferring him on to a stretcher. Australia captain Tim Paine and Cummins watched proceedings closely, with everyone around the ground cutting a worried figure.
“It was a bit scary at the start, the way he fell back initially but he was okay, throughout he was talking to the umpires and the physio. He was hit on the back of the head, back of the neck so he’s being assessed at the moment.”Chandika Hathurusingha, Sri Lanka coach
Sri Lanka were 82 for no loss at the time of the incident. At stumps, they were 123/3, still trailing Australia's first innings of 534/5 declared by 411 runs.
Earlier, Kurtis Patterson became Australia's third century-maker of the first innings, scoring an unbeaten 114. Patterson made Sri Lanka pay for dropping him on the first ball he faced.
Australia's century drought, which dated to Dubai in October, ended as Patterson joined Joe Burns and Travis Head in reaching three figures.
In the morning session, Australian opener Burns' career-best innings ended on 180 after being bowled.
The Queensland batsman appeared set to become the first Australian to score a double century since Steve Smith's 239 against England in December 2017. But Burns played onto his stumps off a ball from Sri Lankan fast bowler Kasun Rajitha, adding eight runs to his overnight score.
Vishwa Fernando was the best of the Sri Lankan bowlers in the first innings with three wickets for 126 runs.
Burns' innings and his record 308-run partnership with Head (161) on the first day put Australia in an almost unbeatable position, which could ensure a first Test series win since the 2017/18 Ashes.
Australia beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 40 runs in the first Test at Brisbane.
(With inputs from AP)
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