Rangana Herath captures 100th Test wicket:

Clarke and Hussey help Australia retain Warne-Murali Trophy

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

Captain Michael Clarke played a top class executive’s century- 112- as he by example led Australia out of trouble and a possible defeat to the land of safety, a draw and a series win against Sri Lanka on the final day of the final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, yesterday.

Giving him excellent support was Michael Hussey 93 who missed a well deserved second century. They put on a huge stand of 176 and helped them retain the Warne-Murali Trophy. The series was sponsored by LG Abans.

Sri Lanka who dismissed Australia for 488 and chasing 332 for victory in 17 overs were 7 for no loss when the game was called off after 2 of the 17 overs. Man of the match and Man of the series - Michael Hussey

Centurian Michael Clarke. AFP	Michael Hussey. AFP

Rangana Herath toiled all day and finished with the excellent figures of 7 for 157 in 52 overs, 11 maidens. He captured his 100th Test wicket when he had Peter Siddle LBW for 26.

Positive approach

With his team in a tricky situation at 188 for 3 and only a slender lead of 37, Clarke in only his first series as captain, played a knock that was responsible, yet majestic and mature as he by example showed the way to his team mates. What was admirable was that he was never negative.

It was his positive approach that rubbed off on Philip Hughes and Michael Hussey and propped their batting. When in full flow he was a treat to watch, as he unwound and sent the ball cascading for fours all over the park and screaming over it. Supple, quick of feet he showed how to blunt spin. He brought back memories of the stormy petrel of Australian cricket and captain, Ian Chappell who was a master of playing spin.

The first session of the final day was going to decide whether this Test would end in Sri Lanka’s favor, Australia’s or end in a draw giving a series victory to the Australians.

The Aussie batsmen would be content to stay put at the wicket, while the onus was on the Lankans who are badly in need of a victory to square the series to put on the pressure, make it difficult for the

batsmen to survive, considering the humidity and heat.

In the circumstances, it was a bit intriguing to watch skipper Tillakeratne Dilshan open the bowling with medium pacers Suranga Lakmal and Chanaka Welegedera who were just bowling up and down stuff and the ideal bowling for Hughes and Clarke to get their eyes in.

Mayhem

On the fourth day it was left arm spinner Rangana Herath who caused mayhem in the Aussie batting by dismissing Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh and Ricky Ponting with his biting spin and leaving Sri Lanka sniffing victory. But surprisingly Herath was not first into the battle front and firing line. It would have pleased Hughes and Clarke.

Realizing his folly Dilshan brought Herath on after five overs and he struck immediately by forcing century maker Phil Hughes to sweep and sky to short fine leg Lahiru Thirimanne to gobble an easy catch in the final ball of his first over.

It was a big wicket. Hughes added only 4 to his overnight score. He hit 16 fours, a six in 220 balls, occupying the crease for 314 minutes. 220-4-126.

Dilshan gave Herath an attacking field and crowded the batsman with a short mid on, short mid wicket, short leg, leg slip and a short fine leg. It was good attacking captaincy. And Hughes succumbed.

Hugh es was out in the first 30 minutes of play and the ever consistent left Hander Michael Hussey joined his Captain Michael Clarke and the two champions began the rebuilding process by playing some attractive and aggressive cricket, that saw the Lankan game plan go to pieces.

Danger man

Herath was the danger man. Clarke easily the best player of spin going in the game today, used his feet beautifully to counter the spin of Herath and it was nice to see him taking the attack to the bowler,

by stepping out and cover driving for fours and going over the top for sixes that upset Herath’s line and length.

Hussey was the rock as he has been on this tour and cutting out the risks, supported his captain playing some nice flicks and sweeps and together they took the team to a sumptuous lunch probably without further loss at 303 for 4 with Clarke on 71 with 9 fours and 2 sixes and Hussey on 21 and a lead of 146 runs.

Clarke was adventurous and could have lost his wicket three times.

First when Kumar Sangakkara failed to hit the stumps with Clarke yards out going for a quick single. Then Prasanna Jayawardena

missed a difficult stumping and second ball after lunch Jayawardena missed another stumping.

The bowler to suffer on both occasions was Herath. Clarke believes in the adage that fortune favors the brave.

Clarke who was going like a bullet train after lunch, hitting huge six off Herath, a few runs later jumped out and crashed Herath for four to the mid on boundary to celebrate his 15th Test hundred in 202 minutes,159 balls with 14 fours and 3 nicely timed sixes.

Partnership

After adding a math saving partnership of 176 with Hussey for the 5th wicket, tiredness forced Clarke to miss hit a drive to Paranavitana at mid on off the hard working Herath and be out for 112. It was Herath’s fifth wicket and his 6th 5 wicket haul in Tests and the second in this series. He had 5 wickets in the Galle Test.

When Clarke went Australia were safe from defeat.

Hussey 80 and Brad Haddin 19 continued the good work and took Australia to 429 for 5, a lead of 272. Afte tea Australia lost Hussey 93, Mtchel Johnson 4, Brad Haddin 30, Peter Siddle 26 and Trent Copeland 3.

SCORECARD

Australia 1st innings 316, 

Sri Lanka 1st innings 473

	AUSTRALIA 2ND INNINGS 

S. Watson lbw b Herath 				 21
P. Hughes c Thirimanne b Herath 		126
S. Marsh c Thirimanne b Herath 			 18
R. Ponting c M. Jayawardene b Herath 		 28
M. Clarke c Paranavitana b Herath 		112
M. Hussey c Welegedara b Dilshan 		 93
B. Haddin c Lakmal b Herath 			 30
M. Johnson c Eranga b Welegedara 		 04
P. Siddle lbw b Herath 				 26
T. Copeland c Paranavitana b Eranga 		 03
N. Lyon not out 				 01
Extras: (b5, lb11, nb4, w6) 			 26
TOTAL (all out, 138.5 overs) 			488

Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-122, 3-188, 4-220, 5-396, 6-448, 7-452, 8-471, 9-486, 10-488.

Bowling: Eranga 18.5-2-62-1 (nb1, w5), Lakmal 22-2-86-0 (nb3, w1), Welegedara 24-3-88-1, 
Herath 52-11-157-7, Dilshan 19-0-62-1, Thirimanne 1-0-7-0, Paranavitana 2-0-10-0.

	SRI LANKA 2ND INNINGS

T. Paranavitana not out 			 02
L. Thirimanne not out 			 	 04
Extras: (w1) 					 01
TOTAL (for no loss, 2 overs)   			 07

Bowling: Copeland 1-0-3-0 (w1), Lyon 1-0-4-0.