Records fall on a day of firsts in Canberra

It was a day of firsts on Friday in Canberra.

Firstly, it was Canberra's and Manuka Oval's first Test match, celebrated with a healthy, buzzing crowd that cheered on a supreme batting performance from the hosts after a shaky start.

Having survived the early carnage that saw Australia reduced to 3-28 inside nine overs, opener Joe Burns powered his way to an unbeaten 172, his fourth Test century, first in three years and, naturally, the first at Manuka Oval.

Burns was at the other end when Travis Head scored his first Test century, a sparkling 161 from 204 deliveries by the South Australian in his eighth Test. 

Together, the pair pummeled the green touring attack in a partnership worth 306, the best stand ever for Australia against Sri Lanka, passing the unbroken 260-run stand between Dean Jones and Steve Waugh in Hobart in December 1989. 

It's also the first time since December 2017 that an Australian pair has put on 300 or more since Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh combined for 301 against England at the WACA Ground.

For Sri Lanka, it is the first Test for seam bowler Chamika Karunaratne. While his first ball went to the third man boundary via the edge of Marnus Labuschagne's bat, he picked up his first Test wicket three balls later when he had the Queenslander nicking behind for just six.

Sadly for the visitors, they went almost five hours without taking a wicket but dropped three catches in that time.

The first grassed chance was at slip by Dhananjaya de Silva, who put down Burns on 34 from the bowling of off-spinner Dilruwan Perera. Perera went from victim to criminal when he dropped Head on 87 at gully before Dhananjaya spilled the left-hander once more, this occasion on 155 from his own bowling. 

Once Head was gone, Lahiru Thirimanne gave No.6 Kurtis Patterson a life from his first ball when he missed a regulation catch at bat-pad. Dhananjaya was once again the bowler.

Oh, and to round things off nicely, it's February 1st. 

Domain Test Series v Sri Lanka

Australia: Tim Paine (c/wk), Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Jhye Richardson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Dimuth Karunaratne, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Roshen Silva, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando

First Test: Australia won by an innings and 40 runs

Second Test: February 1-5, Canberra