Khawaja, Smith hit tons in Galle Test

They finished the opening day of the series in a dominant position at 330 for 2

Stand-in captain Steven Smith scored his 10,000th Test run before completing the momentous occasion with a majestic century, while Usman Khawaja reached his 16th ton as Australia were rewarded for an aggressive approach against a spin-heavy Sri Lanka attack on a slow Galle surface.

Australia finished the opening day of the series in a dominant position at 330 for 2 with rain ending play after 81.1 overs. Khawaja and Smith have combined for an unbroken third-wicket 195-run partnership to capitalise on the batting-friendly conditions in the perfect start for an Australian side striving for a first series victory in Sri Lanka since 2011.

Having averaged 66 in 38 previous Tests as captain, Smith has clearly enjoyed taking the leadership reins with Pat Cummins on paternity leave. He was in sublime form after lunch and reached his half-century in 57 balls before showing patience in the final session as Sri Lanka talisman Prabath Jayasuriya resorted to a defensive leg stump line.

As gloomy skies threatened, Smith regained his momentum to notch his 35th Test century. He raised his baggygreen in a reserved celebration with Smith having peeled off three tons in his last seven Test innings.

Smith had started the match perched on 9999 runs after agonisingly falling short of the landmark in the fifth Test against India on his SCG home ground.

But Smith reached the milestone on his first delivery just before lunch with a flick to mid-on to join Ricky Ponting, Allan Border and Steve Waugh as the only Australians to achieve the milestone. He earned a strong ovation from his teammates and the jovial Australia fans in the terraces as he celebrated with a modest wave of the bat.

He almost fell moments later when he offered a return catch to Jayasuriya, who spilt a chance low down to his right. But Smith was almost flawless after that as he donned his baggygreen cap and batted with authority.

Much like openers Khawaja and Travis Head in the first session, Smith was quick on his feet and targeted the trio of spinners down the ground.

Not having to face tormentor Jasprit Bumrah, Khawaja cut a relaxed figure and played with good intent to end a long drought having gone without a century since the opening Ashes Test in mid-2023.

After a lean series against India, pressure had built on 38-year-old Khawaja but he repaid the faith by perfectly complementing the aggressiveness of Smith and Head, who justified his promotion up the order with 57 off 40 balls.

Khawaja unfurled the reverse sweep to good effect and reached his century off 135 balls, celebrating by pumping his fists and taking off his helmet before waving his bat.It has been a torrid start to the two-Test series for Sri Lanka, who were particularly sloppy in the field and tardy with their reviews.

They were left to rue numerous chances to dismiss Khawaja, including two dropped catches off the bowling of an increasingly flustered Jayasuriya, who destroyed Australia at the venue with a 12-wicket haul in his Test debut in 2022.

Khawaja was also lucky on 74 when he edged Jayasuriya through to wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, but Sri Lanka did not review the not out decision.

Apart from a menacing spell before lunch by legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who turned the ball square having been a surprising inclusion, Sri Lanka's bowlers were rattled and unable to rein in Australia's scoring run until restorting to defensive tactics in the backend of the day's play.

But the damage had been done after Australia piled on 261 runs at a rate of 4.35 in the opening two sessions.

Head set the tone after Smith had no hesitation to bat when the coin fell in his favour amid stifling humidity and a grassless surface.

In a somewhat contentious move, Head moved up from No. 5 at the expense of 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who had made an eye-catching start to his Test career against India.