Australia routs Sri Lanka to hand hosts their biggest loss in test cricket

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Australia wrapped up the first test against Sri Lanka with a session and a day to spare, handing the hosts their biggest defeat in test cricket on Saturday.

Sri Lanka were skittled out for 247 in their second innings, succumbing to an innings-and-242-run drubbing. Their previous heaviest test defeat was an innings-and-239-run loss to India in Nagpur in 2017.

Spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon ran riot, sharing 16 wickets between them as they dismantled Sri Lanka’s fragile batting lineup in both innings.

Kuhnemann, who had already snared a five-wicket haul in the first innings, finished with figures of nine for 149 — his best in test cricket.

“We started off well with the openers setting the tone,” Australia captain Steven Smith said. "Usman (Khawaja) was amazing with that double hundred. He put lot of pressure on the bowlers. Getting 650 allowed us to dictate terms.

“The first day didn’t quite reflect the score,” Smith added. “It took some spin and we batted exceptionally well. I thought we bowled really well. The thing of having three spinners is that you can keep them fresh and next guy can come and make an impact.”

Sri Lanka’s resistance was feeble at best. They lost eight wickets in a session before lunch and another seven between lunch and tea, as the defending world champion Australians stamped their authority with smart bowling and exceptional fielding.

Sri Lanka had allowed Australia to rack up a commanding first innings of 654 for six declared. Khawaja’s double century, Josh Inglis’ debut hundred, and Smith’s second test century propelled the visitors into a position of absolute command.

Dinesh Chandimal was the lone warrior in Sri Lanka's first innings, scoring 72, while Jeffrey Vandersay, batting at number nine, brought up a counterattacking half-century in the second innings. His blistering 53 off 47 balls, laced with seven fours and two sixes, was a stark reminder that the pitch had no demons — application was all that was required.

Sri Lanka had hoped Vandersay would delay the inevitable and help them avoid their worst defeat, but with just four runs needed to surpass that unwanted record, he perished recklessly.

Sri Lanka’s batting lacked partnerships, discipline, and smart shot selection.

With just two half-centuries in the entire game, Sri Lanka’s fragile batting unit is bound to face serious questions. Changes are expected ahead of the second test, which begins in Galle on Thursday.

Captain Dhananjaya de Silva had spoken of reclaiming the Warne-Murali Trophy, which Sri Lanka had lost in 2019. But with Australia taking an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, the trophy remains firmly in the visitors' grasp.

De Silva also harbored ambitions of climbing to number three in the World Test Championship standings. Instead, Sri Lanka plummeted to seventh.

“We had our moments but we couldn’t capitalize on them,” he said. “We dropped four catches and then muddied a couple of reviews and they proved to be costly.”

Khawaja was named man of the match.

“Great feeling to score my maiden double hundred. Very grateful I get to play cricket for Australia,” said the Pakistan-born Khawaja. "Galle is a tough place to play cricket and we are very happy with this win.

“I have a few plans to play spin,” he added. “I have played lot of cricket in Sri Lanka this being my fifth tour. I have made lot of mistakes before. I guess all that experience came in handy in this game.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Nathan Lyon celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris leaves the ground after losing his wicket during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris is bowled out during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Jeffrey Vandersay during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Nishan Peiris leaves the ground after losing his wicket to Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates the wicket of Jeffrey Vandersay during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's team members congratulate their bowler Matthew Kuhnemann for taking five wickets during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's team members congratulate their bowler Matthew Kuhnemann for taking five wickets during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates taking five wickets during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Oshada Fernando during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Todd Murphy celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Oshada Fernando during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Mitchell Starc celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Oshada Fernando during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews plays a shot during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's captain Steven Smith speaks with Todd Murphy during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's captain Steven Smith successfully appeals two dismiss Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's captain Steven Smith speaks with Matthew Kuhnemann during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal plays a shot during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's captain Steven Smith and wicketkeeper Alex Carey successfully appeals two dismiss Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Australia's Matthew Kuhnemann celebrates taking five Sri Lankan wickets during day four of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Galle , Sri Lanka, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

BEIRUT (AP) — The death toll from two days of clashes between security forces and loyalists of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and revenge killings that followed has risen to more than 1,000, including nearly 750 civilians, a war monitoring group said Saturday, making it one of the deadliest outbreaks of violence since Syria’s conflict began 14 years ago.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that in addition to 745 civilians, 125 members of the government security forces and 148 militants with armed groups affiliated with deposed President Bashar Assad were killed.

The observatory also said that electricity and drinking water were cut off in large areas around the coastal city of Latakia and many bakeries shut down.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

BEIRUT (AP) — The death toll from two days of clashes between security forces and loyalists of ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad and revenge killings that followed has risen to more than 600, a war monitoring group said Saturday, making it one of the deadliest acts of violence since Syria’s conflict began 14 years ago.

The clashes, which erupted Thursday, marked a major escalation in the challenge to the new government in Damascus, three months after insurgents took authority after removing Assad from power.

The government has said that they were responding to attacks from remnants of Assad's forces and blamed “individual actions” for the rampant violence.

The revenge killings that started Friday by Sunni Muslim gunmen loyal to the government against members of Assad’s minority Alawite sect are a major blow to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the faction that led the overthrow of the former government. Alawites made up a large part of Assad’s support base for decades.

Residents of Alawite villages and towns spoke to The Associated Press about killings during which gunmen shot Alawites, the majority of them men, in the streets or at the gates of their homes. Many homes of Alawites were looted and then set on fire in different areas, two residents of Syria’s coastal region told the AP from their hideouts.

They asked that their names not be made public out of fear of being killed by gunmen, adding that thousands of people have fled to nearby mountains for safety.

Residents of Baniyas, one of the towns worst hit by the violence, said bodies were strewn on the streets or left unburied in homes and on the roofs of buildings, and nobody was able to collect them. One resident said that the gunmen prevented residents for hours from removing the bodies of five of their neighbors killed Friday at close range.

Ali Sheha, a 57-year-old resident of Baniyas who fled with his family and neighbors hours after the violence broke out Friday, said that at least 20 of his neighbors and colleagues in one neighborhood of Baniyas where Alawites lived, were killed, some of them in their shops, or in their homes.

Sheha called the attacks “revenge killings” of the Alawite minority for the crimes committed by Assad's government. Other residents said the gunmen included foreign fighters, and militants from neighboring villages and towns.

“It was very very bad. Bodies were on the streets,” as he was fleeing, Sheha said, speaking by phone from nearly 20 kilometers (12 miles) away from the city. He said the gunmen were gathering less than 100 meters from his apartment building, firing randomly at homes and residents and in at least one incident he knows of, asked residents for their IDs to check their religion and their sect before killing them. He said the gunmen also burned some homes and stole cars and robbed homes.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said that 428 Alawites have been killed in revenge attacks in addition to 120 pro-Assad fighters and 89 from security forces. The Observatory’s chief Rami Abdurrahman said that revenge killings stopped early Saturday.

“This was one of the biggest massacres during the Syrian conflict,” Abdurrahman said about the killings of Alawite civilians.

The previous figure given by the group was more than 200 dead. No official figures have been released.

A funeral was held Saturday afternoon for four Syrian security force members in the northwestern village of Al-Janoudiya after they were killed in the clashes along Syria's coast. Scores of people attended the funeral.

Syria’s state news agency quoted an unnamed Defense Ministry official as saying that government forces have regained control of much of the areas from Assad loyalists. It added that authorities have closed all roads leading to the coastal region “to prevent violations and gradually restore stability.”

On Saturday morning, the bodies of 31 people killed in revenge attacks the day before in the central village of Tuwaym were laid to rest in a mass grave, residents said. Those killed included nine children and four women, the residents said, sending the AP photos of the bodies draped in white cloth as they were lined in the mass grave.

Lebanese legislator Haidar Nasser, who holds one of the two seats allocated to the Alawite sect in parliament, said that people were fleeing from Syria for safety in Lebanon. He said he didn't have exact numbers.

Nasser said that many people were sheltering at the Russian air base in Hmeimim, Syria, adding that the international community should protect Alawites who are Syrian citizens loyal to their country. He said that since Assad’s fall, many Alawites were fired from their jobs and some former soldiers who reconciled with the new authorities were killed.

Under Assad, Alawites held top posts in the army and security agencies. The new government has blamed his loyalists for attacks against the country’s new security forces over the past several weeks.

The most recent clashes started when government forces tried to detain a wanted person near the coastal city of Jableh, and were ambushed by Assad loyalists, according to the Observatory.

Omar Albam contributed to this report from Al-Janoudiya, Syria.

Relatives and neighbours attend funeral procession for four Syrian security force members killed in clashes with loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad in coastal Syria, in the village of Al-Janoudiya, west of Idlib, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Village male residents pray during the funeral of four Syrian security force members killed in clashes with loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad in coastal Syria, in the village of Al-Janoudiya, west of Idlib, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

The body of a Syrian security force member killed in clashes with loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad in coastal Syria, is carried for burial in the village of Al-Janoudiya, west of Idlib, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Relatives and neighbours mourn during the funeral procession for four Syrian security force members killed in clashes with loyalists of ousted President Bashar Assad in coastal Syria, in the village of Al-Janoudiya, west of Idlib, Saturday, March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Syrian government forces are deployed amid heightened security in Damascus, Syria, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)