The true magnitude of Sri Lanka's win

Amid all the fallout from Australia's loss in the first Test in Kandy, their seventh consecutively on Asian soil, the magnitude of Sri Lanka's victory may have been somewhat overlooked.

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Rank underdogs going into the match against the world number one Test nation having triumphed in just four of their past 14 Tests, the home side not only won the match by a convincing margin, they did so having been ripped out for just 117 on the opening day.

Even the most ardent Sri Lankan supporter would have feared the worst when Australia went to stumps on that shortened first day just 51 runs behind and with eight wickets in hand.

But from the moment Australia's skipper Steve Smith was dismissed early on day two, the undermanned Sri Lankans – who went into the match fielding their sixth and seventh Test debutants in less than a year – dominated the best team in the world.

The come-from-behind victory, just Sri Lanka's second from 27 attempts against the mighty Australians, is statistically the greatest in their history; never before have they won a Test having been dismissed for less than 150 in their first innings.

Their previous first-innings low in a victory also came in Kandy, against the West Indies in 2005, when they won by 240 runs despite being dismissed for just 150 on the opening day.

To give the historic triumph even greater context, the home side's 117 is the third-lowest first-innings total in a victory this century, beaten only by Pakistan's 99 against England in Dubai in 2012 and India's 104 against Australia in Mumbai in 2004. It's the sixth-lowest victorious first-innings total since the Second World War.

The dramatic turnaround also represented an historic loss for the tourists, with that match in Mumbai 12 years ago the only other sub-140 total they've conceded since 1900 that has resulted in a defeat.

So just how did Sri Lanka defy the odds – and their terrible start – to secure a memorable win?

The series-ending injury to Australia's spinner Steve O'Keefe no doubt hurt the tourists, while the extraordinary match-changing 176 from youngster Kusal Mendis will go down as one of the best-ever Test knocks by a Sri Lankan.

But Australia's captain identified the tourists' first innings of 203 as one of the turning points of the match.

"I think we lacked a little bit of discipline in our first innings," Smith said as he reflected on his first defeat as Test skipper.

"I thought we were in a good position to get a much bigger lead than 86. We didn't push on as much there we would have liked.

"I don't think we did a great deal wrong (in Sri Lanka's second innings). I thought Kusal Mendis played an exceptional innings to score 176 and I guess that took the game away from us."

For victorious Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews, the result was a welcome relief after their winless tour of England earlier this year.

"After a rough, tough six to eight months, we needed that victory," Mathews said following what was just his 11th win in 29 Tests as captain.

"In that time, there was a situation where fans were turning away from us. As cricketers we feel that, because when we play well everyone loves you. Even when you lose they may love you, but they are also disappointed.

"The best thing was to win this match for the fans. It's a great win for those who stayed with us, and we thank them because that support means a lot."