http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 – 3rd Test – First Session Recap
A captain’s knock by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 ensured that Australia remain on course to draw the match and in return shatter Sri Lankan hopes of leveling the series with a commanding half- century on the opening session of the final day at SSC, on September 20, 2011.
At lunch, Clarke remained unbeaten on 71, helped by the ever-reliable http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MEK-Hussey-c1942, batting on 21.
On a final day pitch which offered turn and bounce, the hosts managed to make an early breakthrough as spinner, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Phillip-Hughes-c2185 to get his fourth wicket of the innings.
The centurion could only add 4 to his overnight score, top edging a sweep to return back to the pavilion on 126.
However, with pacers finding it difficult to make an impact, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Hussey slowly managed to get into the ascendency with some attacking display. Rather than sitting back and resting on their laurels, the skipper made great use of his feet to unsettle
the rhythm of Herath.
He swept the spinner appreciably to the square leg region before coming out of his crease and hitting an effortless six over long-on. The 30-year-old drove http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 to take
the new ball.
Herath still bowled with the new ball but Clarke stood firm, bringing up his 50 with another majestic maximum hit to the long-on boundary. The player found his lost touch and continued to deliver boundaries, with no bowler able to stem the flow of runs.
On the other end, Hussey spent most of his time on the non-striker's end, admiring his skipper’s return to form. He accumulated steady singles and hit Dilshan to the covers in the final over before lunch to bring up his team’s 300.
Umpires called it lunch as the two walked off the ground in a satisfied manner; however, a lot of work is still on the cards.
Clarke's knock of 71 was well compiled, stroking 9 fours and 2 sixes. Now it will be up to the new Kangaroo skipper to bring up his century, a feat which has eluded him for over 18 months – a barren run of 23 innings without a ton.
As for the Sri Lankan bowlers, they will have to support the lone spinner ably if they want to claim something out of a lack luster home series, in which they have been thoroughly outplayed.
The wicket will continue to offer assistance to the spinners but the fast bowers will have to hold up one end and tighten the screws. As for now the Kangaroos seem in pole position to inflict a series defeat, with Clarke starting his reign in a positive
manner.
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