Australia v Sri Lanka – 1st Test – 3rd Day’s Summary
Australia 273 & 210 v Sri Lanka 105 & 120/5 (52.0 ov) -
Sri Lanka require another 259 runs with 5 wickets remaining
After halting the Australians to a tally of 210 runs in their second innings, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 now have to make 259 runs to win the first Test against the Aussies at Galle International Stadium.
Earlier, after having ended the second day on 115 runs for the loss of six wickets, the Australian batsmen http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MG-Johnson-c1945 came out to bat, hoping to add more runs to their overnight tally as Australia desperately needed to post a formidable
total on the board in their second innings after failing to post a big target in their first innings, where they were bowled out by the hosts after putting only 273 runs.
However, Johnson after scoring eight runs off 19 deliveries was caught by wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559. At the time of this wicket, the Aussies had posted only 130 runs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RJ-Harris-c2330 then came on the field to provide support to Khawaja in order to help the side post a tough target. The two batsmen caused plenty of trouble for the Sri Lankans as they played the opponents with tremendous technique, preventing another fall of
wicket.
The 40-run partnership came to an end when Khawaja after playing a crafted knock of 26 runs off 68 deliveries was given leg-before-wicket on a delivery bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/UWMBCA-Welegedara-c2735. At the time of his departure the side had posted 170 runs on the board with
eight wickets down.
Later, Harris was caught and bowled by Herath after scoring 23 runs off 45 deliveries.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 finished their second innings on 210 runs.
With a target of 379 runs in their sights, the Sri Lankans came out to bat knowing that a win against Australia would not come easily and the Aussies would fight till the end, which turned out to be true when on the first delivery of their innings the Lankans
suffered the loss of opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Harris-c61739 causing the umpire to give the batsman leg-before-wicket.
Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 then took hold of things as they kept the belligerent Australian bowling at bay, preventing the fall of another quick wicket.
However, it was Mahela Jayawardene’s innings that really left everyone awestruck as he played a tentative knock of 57 runs off 139 deliveries while staying unbeaten at the close of the day’s proceedings.
It is now on the shoulders of Jayawardene to lead his side to victory when he resumes his batting on the third day along side fellow batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 who is also unbeaten on 32 runs.
Having ended the second day on 120 runs for the loss of five wickets, Sri Lanka will have to devise a calm and well thought-out batting plan to grab a victory against the Australians, who are equipped with players capable of defending the target required
by the Sri Lankans.
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