http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Michael-Lyon-c78822 will be key on final day – Cricket News Update
The left-arm finger spinner, Rangana Herath, believes his Australian counter-part, Nathan Lyon, will be a possible threat for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 on the final day of the Hobart Test, as the pitch becomes more conducive for spin bowling.
Facing a first innings deficit of 114, the touring Lankans came back strongly after dismissing http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for 278 in the second round. Chasing a total of 393, Sri Lanka is likely to face an uphill task for their survival on the final day given the variable
bounce and assistance for the spinners in the track.
“Lyon will get turn and bounce as well - he always gets bounce because he is tall, and he will have the assistance of the surface as well,” said Herath.
The 34-year-old picked up 5 for 96 in second innings for Sri Lanka, following a completely flat performance earlier in the game.
“I didn't get a wicket in the first innings, but on a fourth day pitch there was some turn and bounce. The ball does not spin as much as Sri Lanka, but if you maintain a good line and length, you can take wickets,” shared Herath at a press conference.
Picking up his 7th 5-wicket haul in 9 Tests during the year, Herath is in contention to finish as the top wicket-taker of 2012 with 60 wickets under his belt and a game to spare.
Bouncing back in the second half of the game, Herath tagged the experience of bowling in County cricket a key determinant behind his success at Hobart.
“I used my experience of playing in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013. When you get wickets on a pitch like this it's always pleasing,” he said.
Seeing Lyon exploit foot marks on the pitch during the first innings, which was depicted through his dismissal of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Samaraweera-c2712 (7) on a top spinner which jumped off the track, Herath felt the 25-year-old will out-do himself on the final day.
Ending with the figures of 2-76 in the first innings, Lyon will have a much bigger role on the 5th day following the injury of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BW-Hilfenhaus-c1204.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 (5*) will come out to resume the Lankan innings (65-2) on the final day to prevent Australia from bagging their first Test victory at home this summer.
Tags: