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Australia makes Sri Lanka sweat
Article .R.K. Radhakrishnan
Going by the amount of time lost in the two test matches and the manner in which the West Indies – Sri Lanka matches went, it will be safe to assume that if a result is required in Sri Lanka, one of the following two criteria need to be fulfilled: 1) the visiting team should be a very strong side like Australia or (2) it has to be a pathetically weak team.
In the first case, the visitors will win, and, in the second, the home side.
Every single day since the start of the second test between Australia and Sri Lanka, time has been lost due to the weather. On Saturday, it was much more than a session; while on Friday, only a few overs could be bowled after tea. On Thursday, play was called off ahead of close due to bad light.
But none of this will come in the way of an Australia win — unless it rains for more than a day from now on. When play was called off on Saturday, Australia was 411 for 7, in reply to Sri Lanka’s paltry 174, in the first innings. That is 237 runs ahead. Michael Clarke would ideally want some more cushion to make sure that his team does not pad up a second time in this match.
For Sri Lanka, anything that could go wrong, went wrong as Australia galloped in the morning session on day 3. At lunch, the scoreboard read 378 for the loss of 5 wickets — more than 200 runs ahead of the Sri Lankan first innings score.
The only wicket to fall in more than a day was that of Michael Hussey, who made 142. He was caught in the deep by Sangakkara, trying to push the scoring rate.
Earlier, Hussey and State team-mate Shaun Marsh completed their centuries in contrasting styles as the duo put the second test past Sri Lanka’s grasp.
Shaun Marsh debut century
Even as Shaun Marsh turned back for his second run after sweeping Suraj Randiv to mid wicket, he knew: he pumped his fist in delight and kept running towards short fine leg, grinning and looking up to the stands to spot his father, former opening batsman Geoff Marsh. At the end of a 319 minute, 234 ball vigil at the crease, Marsh had made a century on debut. He became the 19th Aussie to get a century on debut.
But the No. 19 tag — ‘Oh, yes, he’s one more to the list’ – will not do justice to the effort. The last man who made a century, was Marcus North in South Africa in 2009. He came in at No. 6 and there was not as much pressure on him as was on Marsh. Marsh came in at No. 3 — as Ponting’s replacement — when Sri Lanka was on top in the second test; and Australia was at 116 with three wickets down.
From there on, Marsh just stayed on and kept one end up. He reasoned that there was no need to push scoring; what was required was to keep the wickets. Marsh and Hussey also set a record: that of the highest fourth wicket partnership for Australia and Sri Lanka when they went past Lehman and Martyn (206).
Actually Marsh’s century came three balls after Michael Hussey's achievement — something that he could not manage in Galle. In Galle, he made 95 and picked up the man-of-the-match award for the effort, but then for a batsman, 95 is just what it is — 5 runs too short of a century. This time, Hussey’s 223 minute-193 ball vigil counted. He made 142, his 14th test century.
Source: The Hindu
Article .R.K. Radhakrishnan
Going by the amount of time lost in the two test matches and the manner in which the West Indies – Sri Lanka matches went, it will be safe to assume that if a result is required in Sri Lanka, one of the following two criteria need to be fulfilled: 1) the visiting team should be a very strong side like Australia or (2) it has to be a pathetically weak team.
In the first case, the visitors will win, and, in the second, the home side.
Every single day since the start of the second test between Australia and Sri Lanka, time has been lost due to the weather. On Saturday, it was much more than a session; while on Friday, only a few overs could be bowled after tea. On Thursday, play was called off ahead of close due to bad light.
But none of this will come in the way of an Australia win — unless it rains for more than a day from now on. When play was called off on Saturday, Australia was 411 for 7, in reply to Sri Lanka’s paltry 174, in the first innings. That is 237 runs ahead. Michael Clarke would ideally want some more cushion to make sure that his team does not pad up a second time in this match.
For Sri Lanka, anything that could go wrong, went wrong as Australia galloped in the morning session on day 3. At lunch, the scoreboard read 378 for the loss of 5 wickets — more than 200 runs ahead of the Sri Lankan first innings score.
The only wicket to fall in more than a day was that of Michael Hussey, who made 142. He was caught in the deep by Sangakkara, trying to push the scoring rate.
Earlier, Hussey and State team-mate Shaun Marsh completed their centuries in contrasting styles as the duo put the second test past Sri Lanka’s grasp.
Shaun Marsh debut century
Even as Shaun Marsh turned back for his second run after sweeping Suraj Randiv to mid wicket, he knew: he pumped his fist in delight and kept running towards short fine leg, grinning and looking up to the stands to spot his father, former opening batsman Geoff Marsh. At the end of a 319 minute, 234 ball vigil at the crease, Marsh had made a century on debut. He became the 19th Aussie to get a century on debut.
But the No. 19 tag — ‘Oh, yes, he’s one more to the list’ – will not do justice to the effort. The last man who made a century, was Marcus North in South Africa in 2009. He came in at No. 6 and there was not as much pressure on him as was on Marsh. Marsh came in at No. 3 — as Ponting’s replacement — when Sri Lanka was on top in the second test; and Australia was at 116 with three wickets down.
From there on, Marsh just stayed on and kept one end up. He reasoned that there was no need to push scoring; what was required was to keep the wickets. Marsh and Hussey also set a record: that of the highest fourth wicket partnership for Australia and Sri Lanka when they went past Lehman and Martyn (206).
Actually Marsh’s century came three balls after Michael Hussey's achievement — something that he could not manage in Galle. In Galle, he made 95 and picked up the man-of-the-match award for the effort, but then for a batsman, 95 is just what it is — 5 runs too short of a century. This time, Hussey’s 223 minute-193 ball vigil counted. He made 142, his 14th test century.
Source: The Hindu
Kumar Sangakkara leads Sri Lanka's fightback
Sri Lanka came up with a vastly improved performance in their second innings on Sunday, leaving the onus of saving the second test against Australia on two of their most experienced batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
Former captains Sangakkara (69 not out) and Jayawardene (38 not out) looked well settled too, having starred in an unbroken 95-run third wicket stand when bad light stopped the fourth day's play with the hosts on 223 for two.
Australia captain Michael Clarke had declared their first innings at 411 for seven before the start of the day's play, giving his bowlers as much time as possible to bowl out the hosts for a second time in the rain-hit match.
This is Sri Lanka's best batting performance in the series, aided by a patient 158-ball knock from Sangakkara who scored his 35th test half-century in his 99th test appearance in his home district of Kandy.
"I think it's important we show some characters in this innings, especially since the last three innings we had opportunities to really try and win test matches but we haven't done a bit of batting," Sangakkara told reporters.
The left-handed batsman, along with Jayawardene, frustrated the Australian bowlers who removed openers Tharanga Paranavitana (55) and Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (36) but did not get another chance to celebrate.
Sangakkara said Sri Lanka's job, having folded for 174 in the first innings, was far from over.
"Test matches are usually won or lost on the first innings. Very rarely you see huge comeback in the third and fourth innings. So, as a batting side, going against Australia, we got to be up for the fight," he said.
"If we get a good start tomorrow morning, because the new ball is due in one over, we can put pressure back on the Australians."
Sri Lanka's misfiring openers stitched together an 81-run stand, their best in the series, before captain Dilshan was caught by Shane Watson off Ryan Harris for 36 in the morning session.
After lunch, Australia's part-time bowler Michael Hussey removed Paranavitana with the fifth ball of his first over, to add to his first innings scalp of Sangakkara.
Umpire Tony Hill had to change his 'not out' decision as Australia captain Michael Clarke asked for a review on stumper Brad Haddin's strong request, even though Hussey did not even appeal.
"There was a good noise. I was pretty confident it had nicked the glove," Haddin told reporters.
Paranavitana could not carry on but his 143-ball knock helped steady the home team, who had lost the first five wickets before reaching 80 in the first innings.
Australia won the first test of the three-match series in Galle by 125 runs.
Soruce: DNA News
Sri Lanka came up with a vastly improved performance in their second innings on Sunday, leaving the onus of saving the second test against Australia on two of their most experienced batsmen, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
Former captains Sangakkara (69 not out) and Jayawardene (38 not out) looked well settled too, having starred in an unbroken 95-run third wicket stand when bad light stopped the fourth day's play with the hosts on 223 for two.
Australia captain Michael Clarke had declared their first innings at 411 for seven before the start of the day's play, giving his bowlers as much time as possible to bowl out the hosts for a second time in the rain-hit match.
This is Sri Lanka's best batting performance in the series, aided by a patient 158-ball knock from Sangakkara who scored his 35th test half-century in his 99th test appearance in his home district of Kandy.
"I think it's important we show some characters in this innings, especially since the last three innings we had opportunities to really try and win test matches but we haven't done a bit of batting," Sangakkara told reporters.
The left-handed batsman, along with Jayawardene, frustrated the Australian bowlers who removed openers Tharanga Paranavitana (55) and Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (36) but did not get another chance to celebrate.
Sangakkara said Sri Lanka's job, having folded for 174 in the first innings, was far from over.
"Test matches are usually won or lost on the first innings. Very rarely you see huge comeback in the third and fourth innings. So, as a batting side, going against Australia, we got to be up for the fight," he said.
"If we get a good start tomorrow morning, because the new ball is due in one over, we can put pressure back on the Australians."
Sri Lanka's misfiring openers stitched together an 81-run stand, their best in the series, before captain Dilshan was caught by Shane Watson off Ryan Harris for 36 in the morning session.
After lunch, Australia's part-time bowler Michael Hussey removed Paranavitana with the fifth ball of his first over, to add to his first innings scalp of Sangakkara.
Umpire Tony Hill had to change his 'not out' decision as Australia captain Michael Clarke asked for a review on stumper Brad Haddin's strong request, even though Hussey did not even appeal.
"There was a good noise. I was pretty confident it had nicked the glove," Haddin told reporters.
Paranavitana could not carry on but his 143-ball knock helped steady the home team, who had lost the first five wickets before reaching 80 in the first innings.
Australia won the first test of the three-match series in Galle by 125 runs.
Soruce: DNA News
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