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Sanga, Marvan allow
SL to live another day |
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Sri Lankan batsmen have
finally come good in the ongoing Test Series.
Infact they have given themselves a glimmer of
an opportunity to square the Test Series as they
find themselves 260 runs away from a victory
with still 7 wickets standing! Kumar Sangakkara
is oozing confidence with an unbeaten century
and he has Sanath Jayasuriya, who is looking to
prove a point in what is his last test match
innings in this country.
Australia declared their
second innings giving Sri Lanka a few overs to
face before lunch. The hosts took their total to
an overnight 111 for 1 to 210 for 2 before
declaring. Phil Jaques missed out on a hundred
as he got dismissed for 68 (in 95 balls with 6
fours) by Lasith Malinga. The Australian Captain
Ricky Ponting helped himself to an unbeaten 53
(from 102 balls with 2 fours and a six) along
with Michael Hussey who collected an unbeaten 34
with a four and a six in 48 balls. Aussies
declared after batting for 46 overs in total and
leaving a target of 507.
Mitchell Johnson struck
early with the new ball removing Michael Vandort
in the 4th over and it looked as if there was
going to be a surrender from the visitors. But
then Atapattu and Sangakkara had different ideas
and their positive strokeplay had cast doubts in
Ponting's mind whether he should have got more
runs on the board before declaring. Fortunately
for Ponting, Brett Lee bounced out Atapattu to
end what was a 143-run partnership for the
second wicket. Atapattu did justice to his
selection in the team scoring 80 (from 164 balls
with 9 fours). Brett Lee after packing Atapattu
sent in a scorching yorker that beat the
defences of first innings centurion Mahela
Jayawardene in the very first ball he had faced
leaving SL at 158 for 3.
Normalcy was restored
though thanks to some sensible batting from
Kumar Sangakkara, who went onto notch up his
hundred along with Jayausirya who has got his
highest score of the series, an unbeaten 33
(from 58 balls with 5 fours). Sangakkara has got
to 109 which has come in 198 balls with 15 hits
to the fence. His partnership with Jayasuriya
has lasted 19 overs. With another 260 to get, it
could be anyone's game especially with SL still
having seven wickets in hand. The pressure will
be on the Aussies but then its just the matter
of taking a couple of wickets early in the
morning. Sri Lanka have finished the fourth
day's play at 247 for 3 in 70 overs.
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