LIVE – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758: 3rd Test – Hughes falls early, but Hussey and Clarke solid – Match Update
Australia lost their opening batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MEK-Hussey-c1942 have steadied the innings against Sri Lanka in the final Test of the three-match series at the Sinhalese Sports Club
Ground, Colombo on Tuesday, September 20, 2011.
The tourists were 209 for the loss of three wickets until close of the fourth day’s play yesterday. They were in control of the match, but would have been a touch disappointed at losing veteran batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 at the closing stages of day four.
However, Hughes walked off the field with a sigh of relief on his face. He had been struggling to perform at the top of the order and might have been dropped had he not scored a big one in his final innings on the Sri Lanka tour.
The flamboyant opener made most of the opportunity and played aggressive cricket at the start of his innings yesterday. He reached his half-century in quick time and capitalised on the start, making a solid ton for his side.
At close of play yesterday, Hughes had scored 122 runs and would have been confident to carry on the next day as well. However, he managed to add just four runs to his total on day five before being dismissed.
The 22-year-old got out for 126 runs off 220 balls with the help of 16 fours and one massive six. He got out in an attempt to play an aggressive shot against spinner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559.
The ball pitched on the off-stump and spun back into the pads of the batsman, who tried to sweep it towards the boundary. However, the extra bounce did not allow Hughes to find the middle of the bat and he top edged the ball to the hands of the fielder at
square-leg.
The early wicket would have given some hopes to the Sri Lankan side, but http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Hussey were solid as a rock against the opposition’s bowlers. They guided the team’s total above 300, as the match seems to be headed towards a draw.
Herath has all four wickets to fall until now and will be hoping to get some support from the other end in order to pressurise the visitors.
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