Lead by 112 runs with four wickets and two days to
go:
Sri Lankans in a position of strength
Elmo RODRIGOPULLE from the SSC, Sunday
The Sri Lankans at are in a position of strength with a lead of 112
and four wickets remaining at the end of the third day of the Third and
Final Test against Australia at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, here
today with Angelo Mathews on 85 and Shaminda Eranga on 5 at the wickets.
Sri Lanka was 428 for 6 in reply to Australia’s 316.
When play begins today, the Lankan batsmen will have to step on it,
get a formidable lead then put the pressure on the Aussies and probe for
that series squaring victory.
Sri Lanka must thank Captain and Vice Captain Tillekeratne Dilshan
and Angelo Mathews for placing them in this wonderful position. They
joined forces when the side was 210 for 4 and the Australians set to
take charge. But Dilshan and Mathews had other ideas and their stand of
121 took the game away from the Australians.
Bathed in sunshine
Later Mathews and Prasanna Jayawardena with a stand of 81 helped
increase lead. Jayawardena in his 47 hit 3 fours and two huge sixes.
The ground was bathed in sunshine when play began on the third day,
which day was going to be the day of destiny for Sri Lanka cricket with
the home team on 166 for 2 with Kumar Sangakkara on 61 and Mahela
Jayawardena on 31, still 150 runs behind Australia’s 316.
Spectators were seen coming in, hoping that Kumar Sangakkara would
tonk a dream hundred in his 100th Test and join a select band of batsmen
who have scored hundreds in their 100th Test appearance.
The Lankans had to pass the visitors total, build a good lead and
keep the Aussies under pressure for the remaining two days and push for
a victory that would help them to square the series and save face.
Could they do it? That was the question on every Sri Lankan cricket
fan’s lips.
The SSC wicket has been traditionally known to favour batsmen on the
third day and it was no different yesterday.
The ball was kissing the bat beautifully by the sound it was making
on impact with the bat and none of the Australian bowlers were able to
trouble Sangakkara and Jayawardena.
Early wickets
As for the Australians, it was paramount that they capture early
wickets and not let the Lankans dominate. After playing some copy book
cover drives which he is famous for and after upper cutting a Shane
Watson delivery to the point boundary to reach his 40th Test fifty,
Jayawardena perished.
Jayawardena drove at a wide delivery and snicked to Brad Haddin
behind the stumps for 51 with 9 fours in 120 deliveries.
It was innings of beauty while it lasted. He helped post the 100 run
third wicket stand with Sangakkara in 239 balls. 198-3-51.
Twelve runs later Sangakkara after adding 18 runs to his overnight
unbeaten score of 61 fell when he failed to keep down a devilish
delivery with the new ball from Peter Siddle that rose off a good length
and touched it to Haddin.
He drove the first ball for 4 and was out in the fourth ball.
210-4-79. The new ball was taken at 206.
Sangakkara’s dream of becoming the first Sri Lankan batsman to join
that select band of batsmen failed to materialize. That’s how cruel this
game can get at times.
Big guns destroyed
The Australians had destroyed Sri Lanka’s two big batting guns in the
space of 44 runs which was good going and with the home team still 106
behind.
Skipper Dilshan and Angelo Matthews settled down against the new ball
which was being cleverly used by Siddle and Trent Copeland and later
Mitchell Johnson and went to lunch having put on 40 runs without further
loss.
Dilshan played some audacious drives in his unbeaten 29 with 6 fours
and Mathews on 14 with a solitary boundary.
The pre lunch session saw Sri Lanka lose Jayawardena and Sangakkara
and at lunch were 250 for 4 were still 66 runs short of the Australian
score. The session was even.
When Mathews joined Dilshan the Test was nicely poised and there was
a great responsibility on these two.
On them depended the fortunes of this Test for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews who remained unbeatean on
85 plays a shot during the third day of the third and final
Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at the SSC Ground
yesterday. AFP |
They shouldered the responsibility and did the right thing in going
for their shots and playing aggressive cricket instead of getting bogged
down and this upset all Aussie plans.
Dilshan batting in his former position did not show any discomfort
and played the way he knows, putting bat to ball at every opportunity
and succeeded driving the ball on the up for fours with good timing and
great power with sweet timing. He was first to 50, and his first 50 in
this series with 10 fours in 69 balls.
Senior partner
Mathews was content to allow his more senior partner to do all the
scoring, but when the opportunity came along he obtained runs going over
the top and driving firmly.
With this partnership blossoming, the Australian pace and spin proved
innocuous and fell to pieces.
They saw Sri Lanka into the lead hoisting a valuable 121 run stand
for the fifth wicket which was a record against Australia and with the
total on 331 a lead of 15, Dilshan attempted to tickle a ball off Trent
Copeland to third man, got an edge and Haddin took the catch that
rebounded off his leg.
Dilshan made 83 with 14 fours in 131 balls,178 minutes. It was a
captain’s innings and five star class entertainment while it lasted.
Their stand came in 150 balls.
After the dismissal of Dilshan shortly before tea, the run making
became pedestrian and the teams enjoyed a ‘cuppa’ with Sri Lanka on 337
for 5 - a lead of 21 with Mathews on 42 and Prasanna Jayawardena on 5.
The post lunch session was completely dominated by Dilshan and
Mathews who brought Sri Lanka back into the picture and a chance of
forcing a win.
AUSTRALIA
1ST INNINGS: 316
SRI LANKA
1ST INNINGS
T. Paranavitana c Ponting b Johnson 46
L. Thirimanne b Siddle 28
K. Sangakkara c Haddin b Siddle 79
M. Jayawardene c Haddin b Watson 51
T. Dilshan c Haddin b Copeland 83
A. Mathews not out 85
P. Jayawardene c Clarke b Copeland 47
S. Eranga not out 5
Extras: (b1, lb2, nb1) 4
Total (for six wickets, 155 overs) 428
Fall of wickets: 1-56 (Thirimanne), 2-97 (Paranavitana), 3-198 (M. Jayawardene),
4-210 (Sangakkara), 5-331 (Dilshan), 6-412 (P. Jayawardene).
Bowling: Copeland 33-10-70-2, Siddle 27-7-76-2 (nb1), Johnson 33-5-116-1,
Watson 24-7-53-1, Lyon 34-5-91-0, Hussey 2-1-5-0, Ponting 2-0-14-0. |