Australia crushed Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs in the first Test in Galle on Saturday, inflicting the hosts' biggest defeat in Test cricket history. 

Forced to follow on, spinners Matthew Kuhnemann (4-86) and Nathan Lyon (4-78) starred for Australia as they bundled out Sri Lanka for 247 in the second innings. 

Jeffrey Vandersay, who top-scored for Sri Lanka with 53 runs, was the final wicket to fall before tea on the fourth day to Kuhnemann.

Earlier in the day, the hosts were forced to follow on when they collapsed from 136-5 to 165 all out while responding to Australia declaring at a massive 654-6. 

Left-arm spinner Kuhnemann also picked up five wickets in the first innings to finish with match figures of 9-149, while 37-year-old Lyon picked up seven. 

The two teams will meet again at the same venue for the second and final Test, which will start on Thursday. They will also play two ODIs in the build-up to the Champions Trophy later this month. 

Australia takes the first Test. Tough one for Sri Lanka, but we’ll be back stronger in the next match. #SLvsAUS pic.twitter.com/1osH0c9ICt

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) February 1, 2025

Data Debrief: Unwanted record for Sri Lanka

After batting for 154 overs in the first innings, the tourists needed just 106.5 overs to take 20 Sri Lankan wickets across two innings, with 15 falling on the fourth day. 

It meant that it was Sri Lanka's heaviest defeat in Test matches, overtaking a loss by an innings and 239 runs in the hands of India in Nagpur in 2017. 

It was Australia's fourth-biggest Test win in history and their biggest in 75 years, since defeating South Africa by an innings and 259 runs in Gqeberha in 1950.