Aussies in strong position

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from the Galle International Stadium

Wonderful spells of bowling from Shane Watson (3 for 11) and debutant Nathan Lyon (5 for 34) who helped dismiss Sri Lanka for 105, put Australia in a strong position to force a win in the First of Three Test matches now in progress at the Galle International Cricket Stadium here, today.

After gaining a useful lead of 168, the kangaroos were rocked by the spin of Rangana Herath in their second innings losing six wickets for 115, but took their overall lead to 283 on the second day. At the wickets were Usman Kwajha on two and on Mitchell Johnson on 3.

On a wicket that is crumbling by the ball, the Lankan batsmen, if their first innings batting debacle was an indication, will have to climb cricket’s Mount Everest to secure victory. A slight drizzle forced play to be called off for the day. The rain later turned heavy.

The second day belonged to off spinner Nathan Lyon who in the process of taking a first ball wicket became only the second Australian to take a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket. The first being Arthur Conington in 1900. He thus joined a select band of bowlers to perform this rare feat.

It will be interesting to watch as to what score Australia will set Sri Lanka to chase for victory.

To recap on the first day’s play - after a delayed start owing to the rain having made the outfield wet, Sri Lanka thanks to some clever bowling by Suranga Lakmal and Rangana Herath who had three wickets each and Suraj Randiv who chipped in with two wickets bundled Australia out for 273 just before the close.

If not for a fighting 95 by Michael Hussey, the kangaroo total would have looked a sad sight.

While Lakmal, Herath and Randiv were bringing down the batting fortress of the Australians, the question asked by the knowledgeable here was - why isn’t mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis who the visitors fear to face was not playing? That question will be best answered by the selectors. The Aussie cricketers would have heaved a sigh of relief when it was known that Mendis was not playing.

With the wicket taking vicious spin - turning square at times - the inclusion of Mendis and also leg spinner Seekkuge Prasanna at the expense of a paceman, would have had the Aussie batsmen struggling and in a flat spin.

When Sri Lanka began their reply, all what they had to do was to bat sensibly, aim for a formidable total and put the pressure on the Australians. But that was a day dream.

After a maiden first over from Richard Harris disaster struck. Skipper Tillekeratne Dilshan who had the responsibility of seeing his team to a good start for the batsmen following to consolidate, drove debutant Trent Copeland’s first ball for four.

In his anxiety and still imagining he is playing one day cricket, he could not cope with a Copeland delivery drove again only to have the mortification of seeing Ricky Ponting gobbling up a stinging low catch at short cover for 4. Did not Copeland jubilate with his team mates. A memorable debut first wicket.

Little did anyone imagine that, that reckless Dilshan stroke was signal for a sensational Sri Lankan batting collapse. Believe it or not 105 all out in 50 overs in 216 minutes. Their sixth lowest score in Test cricket and the lowest in Galle and conceding a big lead of 168 runs.

Kumar Sangakkara joined Tharanga Paranavitana and after pushing the score to 24 saw the introduction of spin in the form of off spinner Nathan Lyon. In his first ball, debutant Lyon struck another crippling blow when he lured Sangakkara to lunge at his first ball that bounced and spun viciously to take the edge for Clarke at slip to take a left handed diving catch. 24-2-10. That was a wicket that Lyon will always remember.

Then Mahela Jayawardena who was going well in partnership with Paranavitana, was senselessly run out when Paravitana played a ball to point and going for a single hesitated and was run out for 11. 44-3-11. Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera took the score to 54 without further loss at lunch.

After lunch some irresponsible and disgusting batting saw Sri Lanka lose 7 wickets for just 61 runs to the splendid bowling of medium pacer Shane Watson who was reverse swinging and off spinner Nathan Lyon who was teasing and luring the batsmen to their destruction.

Opener Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera showed guts and the correct temperament to score 29 and 26. Paranavitana stuck it out for 182 minutes. In the midst of this batting mockery it was sad to see Angelo Mathews attempting a sweep and being bowled round his legs.

Lyon finished with figures of 15-3-35-5. It was a dream start and it should give the necessary confidence and encouragement as his Test career begins to unwind. A great future is ahead of him. Watson performed magnificently finishing with 3 for 11 in 6 overs having all his victims plumb in front.

Australia 1st innings - 273 
Sri Lanka 1st innings:
T. Paranavitana lbw b Watson	29
T. Dilshan c Ponting b Copeland	 4
K. Sangakkara c Clarke b Lyon	10
M. Jayawardene run out		11
T. Samaraweera lbw b Watson	26
P. Jayawardene lbw b Watson	 0
A. Mathews b Lyon		 5
S. Randiv c Ponting b Lyon	 9
R. Herath c Johnson b Lyon	 0
S. Lakmal not out		 2
C. Welegedara  and b Lyon	 1
Extras: (lb4, w1, nb3)		 8
TOTAL (all out, 50 overs)	105
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-4 (Dilshan), 2-24 (Sangakkara), 3-44 (M. Jayawardene), 4-87 (Samaraweera), 
5-87 (P. Jayawardene), 6-88 (Paranavitana), 7-100 (Mathews), 8-100 (Herath), 9-103 (Randiv), 10-105 (Welegedara).
BOWLING: Harris 8-5-6-0 (w1), Copeland 12-3-24-1, Johnson 9-1-26-0 (nb3), Lyon 15-3-34-5, Watson 6-1-11-3
   
Australia 2nd innings:

S. Watson c Samaraweera b Welegedara	 0
P. Hughes lbw b Dilshan			28
R. Ponting c Herath b Lakmal		 4
M. Clarke c P. Jayawardene b Herath	60
M. Hussey c Paranavitana b Herath	15
Usman Khawaja not out			 2
B. Haddin c M. Jayawardene b Herath	 0
M. Johnson not out			 3
Extras: (lb2, nb1)			 3
TOTAL (for six wickets, 33.5 overs)	115
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Watson), 2-5 (Ponting), 3-61 (Hughes), 4-110 (Clarke), 5-110 (Hussey), 6-112 (Haddin).
BOWLING: Welegedara 3-3-0-1, Lakmal 5-2-18-1 (nb1), Herath 12.5-0-51-3, Randiv 8-2-22-0, Dilshan 5-0-22-1
Australia lead by 283 runs with four wickets in hand