Sri Lanka’s opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne ended his impressive Test cricket career during his 100th and final match at the famous Galle International Stadium. He played his last delivery against Australia on Saturday, February 8, in the ongoing second and final Test in Galle.
Dimuth Karunaratne’s Emotional Farewell in Galle
In the third ball of the 14th over, Matthew Kuhnemann delivered a fuller ball outside off. Dimuth Karunaratne, known for his solid technique and grace, stretched forward to defend. However, the ball slightly curved in and caught the faintest edge, which was safely caught by keeper Alex Carey.
The Australians quickly appealed for a caught-behind, although Carey seemed more focused on a possible stumping. After a short discussion, umpire Joel Wilson raised his finger, signaling for the Sri Lankan batter to leave the field.
Dimuth Karunaratne opted for a review, but UltraEdge confirmed the faint nick, ending his final innings at 14 runs off 28 balls. As he made his way off the field, Dinesh Chandimal met him halfway with a fist bump and gave him a warm hug.
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The Australian players also paid their respects to the Sri Lankan batter. Australian spinner Nathan Lyon congratulated Karunaratne on his impressive career, while the rest of the team applauded in honor of the batter in Galle on Saturday.
Galle Stadium Pays Tribute to Karunaratne’s Legacy
As Dimuth Karunaratne walked off the field, the entire Galle International Stadium erupted in applause, waving and cheering to honor his contributions to Sri Lankan cricket. The emotional Karunaratne raised his bat one last time, taking in the admiration from both fans and players.
He leaves behind a legacy as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest Test openers. His final Test career tally stands at an impressive 7,222 runs, including 39 fifties and 16 centuries. The moment has since gone viral, with many sharing the touching clip online. Notably, Karunaratne scored 36 runs in the first innings of his final match.
Sri Lanka struggled after choosing to bat first in the second Test, managing only 257 runs in their first innings against Australia. Australia responded with a dominant performance, led by a record-breaking 259-run partnership between captain Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Both scored centuries, helping Australia reach 414 before lunch on Day 3, taking a 157-run lead.
The partnership between Smith and Carey broke the previous record of 258 runs set by Michael Hussey and Shaun Marsh in 2011. Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya took three quick wickets, but Sri Lanka’s second innings started poorly. They now have only a 17-run lead with five wickets remaining.
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