Set 393 for an unlikely victory:

Sri Lanka are 65 for 2, needing 328 more

Elmo Rodrigopulle

Set a challenging target of 393 for victory in four sessions, Sri Lanka were 2 for 65 still short of 328 runs, for that elusive first dream victory in Australia on the penultimate day of the First Test, here today at the Bellerive Oval.

At the wickets were Kumar Sangakkara on 18 and Mahela Jayewardene on 5 with Australia requiring to capture 8 more wickets for their first victory this summer.

The target is a big task. The wicket is showing some cracks on it and the ball also keeps low at times and it is not going to be a walk in the park getting the runs for an unlikely victory.

If the Lankans are to make the impossible, possible then now with first innings century maker Tillekeratne Dilshan cooling his heels in the pavilion, touching Shane Watson’s first ball to Matthew Wade behind for 11 at 26, Dimuth Karunaratne bowled Starc for 30 at 47, the burden has fallen on the two elder statesmen Sangakkara and Jayewardene to steer Sri Lanka home.

It is the accepted norm that if a match cannot be won, then every nerve and sinew must be strained to save face and the match. The Lankans have it in them to do that. What they must do is to believe in themselves.

No interruptions likely

It dawned bright, yet it was a bit cold with a little cloud cover and play began 30 minutes early to catch up for the lost time and when Shamindra Eranga sent down the first over to Ed.Cowans, indications were that play will go on with no interruptions.

But the weather here is so fickle. It can be sunny and gorgeous one moment and it could suddenly turn overcast and it could rain. But what is admirable is that only the wicket has to be covered to protect it, while the outfield does not retain water because of the wonderful draining system.

To recap on Sunday’s play: It was the marvellous century from former captain Tillekeratne Dilshan 147 and a good supporting knock from Angelo Matthews 75 who were involved in a record breaking stand of 161 for the 5th wicket, that took Sri Lanka to safety and past the ignominy of a follow on.

Very creditable

That we fell short of the big Australian total of 450 for 5 declared by 114 runs was very creditable and thanks are also due to Prasanna Jayewardene 40 and Nuwan Kulasekera who chipped in with 23 with two sixes.

When Australia batted a second time, Ed Cowan was plumb in front to a delivery from Nuwan Kulasekera early in his innings. Nigel Llong turned down the vociferous appeal. Subsequent TV replays showed the batsman out. Why was it not referred was the question? But that was an afterthought.

When play began on the 4th day and with the Australians in front by 141 runs, the Sri Lankan bowlers had to break through early if they were to be in with a sniffing chance of victory.

Score quickly

On the other side of the coin, openers Ed Cowans and David Warner and the other batsmen had to survive, score as quickly as possible and give Clarke a big enough lead and ample time to declare, set a tempting target, bowl the Sri Lankans out and a chalk up a victory that has eluded them this summer.

The Lankans could not break though early and Cowans and Warner went their merry way, accumulating easy runs and taking the game away from the Lankans. They played some audacious strokes with Warner stepping down and lofting Herath over mid on for a big six.

Cowans and Warner hoisted their 100 run stand untroubled with Warner first to his 50, followed by Cowans. With the score on 132, Herath who was introduced a bit late, tempted Warner to cut only to get a touch for Jayewardene to take the catch standing up.

Warner impressive

Warner made 68 with 5 fours and a six. He was particularly impressive with the cut and the pull. It was his second fifty of the match having made 57 in the first innings. It was a good match for him.

Then with lunch approaching, Chanaka Welegedera moved a ball through the ‘gate’ to bowl Ed.Cowans for a sweetly carved out 65 with 8 fours. He made up for his first innings failure. For a fourth day the wicket was playing well, with the odd delivery keeping low and however much the Lankan bowlers tried to have more wickets before lunch proved fruitless. At lunch Australia were 145 for 2 with Phil Hughes on 8 and Shane Watson on 2.

Flurry of activity

After lunch there was a flurry of activity with Australia losing seven wickets while scoring 133 runs. Australian captain Michael Clarke made a breezy 57 with 6 fours and a six off 46 balls and was forced to retire suffering a hamstring strain, and there is the possibility of him missing the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Michael Hussey ran short of partners and was unbeaten on 31 with 3 fours and a six. The rest of the batting fell cheaply with Phil Hughes going for 16, Shane Watson 5, Matthew Wade 11, Peter Siddle 4, Mitchell Starc 5, Nathan Lyon 11 and the injured Ben Hilfenhaus for no score.

In this session the Lankan bowlers got their act together with Chanaka Welegedera and Rangana Herath outstanding. While Welegedera moved the ball around, Herath varied his deliveries well to bemuse the batsmen and his figures of 5 for 95 in 21.5 overs with 2 maidens was great reward.

Herath 60 wickets

With this 5 wicket haul, he has captured 60 wickets in 9 Tests in one calendar year beating England’s Graeme Swann’s tally of 59 wickets in 14 Tests. It was creditable for this persevering spinner who sweats it out in the nets perfecting his art. The hard working Welegedera had 3 for 89 to add to his first innings tally of 3 for 130. Coming back to the game after a long layoff, Welegedera used the new ball cleverly and seems to have regained his old form. Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Monday.

Australia 
 1st innings 
450 for 5 declared
 Sri Lanka 
 1st innings 
336 
 Australia 
 2nd innings 
E. Cowan b Welegedara 			56
D. Warner c P. Jayawardene b Herath 	68
P. Hughes b Eranga 			16
S. Watson st P. Jayawardene b Herath 	 5
M. Wade c Kulasekara b Herath 		11
M. Clarke retired hurt 			57
M. Hussey not out 			31
P. Siddle c P. Jayawardene b Welegedara  4
M. Starc lbw b Welegedara 		 5
N. Lyon b Herath 			11
B. Hilfenhaus lbw b Herath 		 0
Extras (lb10, nb4)			14
Total (9 wkts, 73.5 overs)		278
Fall of wickets: 1-132 (Warner), 2-140 (Cowan), 3-153 (Watson), 4-165 (Hughes), 
5-181 (Wade), 6-250 (Siddle), 7-256 (Starc), 8-271 (Lyon) 9-278 (Hilfenhaus)
 Bowling: Kulasekara 12-3-24-0 (1nb), Welegedara 22-3-89-3 (3nb), Dilshan 2-0-2-0, 
Eranga 11-0-53-1, Mathews 5-2-5-0, Herath 21.5-2-95-5
 Sri Lanka 
 2nd innings 
D. Karunaratne b Starc 		30
T. Dilshan c Wade b Watson 	11
K. Sangakkara not out 		18
M. Jayawardene not out 		 5
Extras (b1)			 1
Total (2 wkts, 37 overs)	65
Fall of wickets : 1-26 (Dilshan), 2-47 (Karunaratne) Bowling: Starc 10-4-21-1, 
Siddle 7-3-12-0, Watson 9-4-10-1, Lyon 10-3-16-0, Hussey 1-0-5-0