DAY, 4: STUMPS - Australia: 316 - 209 / 3 in 68.0 overs RR: 3.07, Sri Lanka: 473 in 174.0 overs RR: 2.72
Hughes leads Oz to safety
After limiting the lead to 157, Australia led by Phillip Hughes batted well to be 209 for 3 at the end of day four at SSC, the opener unbeaten on 122.Though, Herath bowled his heart out, picked up all the three Australian wickets to fall but lacked support from the other bowlers to make any more inroads. The hosts, in front by 52 would bank on the centurion to see them through on the last day.
Sri Lanka trailing 1-0 in the series needed to get quick wickets upfront to brighten the chances of a result but the Australian openers added 62 in less than 12 overs. Both the openers targeted the new ball knowing that the scoring may become little difficult after the spinners come into the attack. Nine boundaries had been scored in the first eleven overs when Herath was handed over the ball.
Hughes, starting the innings on a pair, looked in good knick particularly while driving through the covers. He greeted Herath with a slog sweep over cow-corner for a six but the bowler managed to get a breakthrough in the same over as Watson was hit on the front foot by a delivery that was going straight. Even though, the on-field umpire adjudged it not-out, Sri Lanka got it overturned through a review. Nevertheless, the 62 run opening partnership had laid a solid foundation.
After behaving well for the first three days, the SSC pitch was showing signs of wear and tear which was exploited by Herath. While maintaining a good length, the left hander targeted the rough outside Hughes’ off-stump but the batsman countered it by attacking anything pitched up. He got to his fifty in 67 deliveries with a slog swept four off Dilshan.
At the other end, Australia’s new no. 3 Shaun Marsh, unlike two of his previous innings looked in bit of discomfort, scoring 18 runs after facing 56 deliveries. He was eventually caught close-in even though, replays suggested that the ball had not touched the glove but the batsmen strangely did not ask for the review. His wicket at the stroke of Tea with the score at 122 did lift the hosts but they needed few more in the last session to make a match of it.
However, Hughes was one determined Aussie not to let Sri Lanka have any space in the game. He was rock solid while dispatching anything that was marginally off line. However, there were a few nervous moments in the nineties. A glance down to fine leg boundary helped him to 97, a strange shot almost cost him three figures on 99 but the opener finally brought up his third century in Tests with a nudge through point. Meanwhile, Ponting who had replaced Marsh too played second fiddle to Hughes letting the left hander dictate terms. Still, he hit a couple of those trademark full-stretch cover drives during the 66-run partnership with Hughes that put Australia in lead.
Of all the Sri Lankan bowlers, Herath threatened the most with a nagging line coupled with some assistance from the track. After snaring Watson and Marsh, he was the one to remove Ponting with a stinging delivery that beat the batsman’s defensive prod to take the gloves enroute to Mahela at slip, the former captain dismissed for a 80-ball 28. Ponting’s dismissal did revive Sri Lankan hopes but Hughes dropped anchor after the century to take Australia to 209 for 3, the overall lead pegged at 52. He was unbeaten on 122 and with him Michael Clarke on 8 when the stumps were draw.
Earlier, Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews finally overcame the nervous nineties syndrome to score his maiden test ton that played a major role in his team securing a healthy first innings lead of 157. The home team lost four of its remaining wickets for just 45 runs facing 19 overs and eventually bowled out for 473.
Like his previous bouts while approaching the elusive hundred, Mathews had some nervous moments as Australia claimed wickets regularly and it needed number eleven Suranga Lakmal’s defiant support that helped him to the feat. Aussie skipper Michael Clarke spreading the field didn’t help either as his anxiety to get there was palpable on his face ever so vividly. Though, the wait ended when Mathews blasted a cover drive 256th ball of his innings off Peter Siddle to bring wild and passionate celebrations from the all-rounder. His hundred brought an end to a streak of dismissals Angelo had experienced in nineties in the past.
Siddle was the bowler who did the work for the visitors. The paceman castled overnight unbeaten batsman Shaminda Eranga and then caught Rangana Herath plumb infront to dent Lankan’s endeavour to score fast. Chanaka Welegedara was run-out and Lakmal was clean bowled by Mitchell Johnson to wrap up the innings. Mathews remained unbeaten on 105 that came off 269 balls including ten hits to the fence.
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