Lankans on the skids, uphill task to stave off defeat

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting

The Gabba, Brisbane, Nov 10: The Sri Lankans are on the skids and have an uphill task to save themselves from the ignominy of an innings defeat.

After folding up for 211 in reply to Australia"s score of 551 for 4 wkts dec and being invited to bat again, were 80 for 2 still requiring another 261 runs to make the baggy green caps to bat again when play ended on the third day of the First Test at the Gabba,here today.

The wicket is still playing easy and the Aussies are hell bent on chalking up another win and adding to their unbeaten record.The only way the Lankans can save this game is by putting their heads down and staying put at the wicket, or hope the weather gods will be kind to them and open up for the rest of the days.

In their endeavour to save the game the Lankans lost Marvan Atapattu for 16 after an opening stand of 53 with Sanath Jayasuriya. Atapattu, however was unfortunate to be given out caught by wicket keeper Gilchrist off bowler Symonds for 16 as T.V. replays showed that Atapattu did not get a touch to the ball. Then Jayasuriya went after a cameo knock of 39 with 1 six and 6 fours, Jayasuriya was brilliantly snapped up by Ponting at second slip off Lee with the score on 65.

At the wickets were Michael Vandort on 15 and Mahela Jayawardena on 8. When play began on the third day,,Sri Lanka"s first hurdle was to avoid the ignominy of a follow on and get past 351.

Chasing Australia"s massive 551 for 4 declared,it was paramount that the batsmen put their heads down and played the bowling on its merits,scored when the opportunity presented itself,but most importantly keep their wickets intact.

Coach Trevor Bayliss"s revelation that former vice captain Chaminda Vaas came near to being left out would have surprised and shocked some of the players. But they did not show it,as they had a job in hand.

Towards the end of day two the Lankans lost Sanath Jayasuriya to a poor piece of umpiring by Tony Hill of New Zealand.Hill slid downhill and surrendered meekly to the pressure put on him by the loud appealing of the slip cordon and the wicketkeeper and Jayasuriya's innings was cruelly cut short. A gift wicket to Brett Lee.

Then Michael Vandort from whom much was expected in the absence of the reliable Kumar Sangakkara, pushed his bat at a moving ball and presented a catch to Gilchrist off Lee without scoring.Sri Lanka lost the wickets at 7 and 11.

Marvan Atapattu 19 and Mahela Jayawardena 5 took Lanka to the close without further loss.

Although the morning dawned gloomy, there was blazing sun when play began on day three. The manner in which Atapattu and Jayawardena began, it was apparent that the wicket held no terrors. There were no deliveries climbing or creeping and it looked still good for batting. What was required was playing straight and treating the bowling accordingly.

The batsmen, two of the most experienced in the Lankan side and on whom a big responsibility rested seemed to be going well,but after adding 34,Jayawardena was deceived by one that moved from Stuart Clarke and Gilchrist took his third catch.54 for 3 - Jayawardena 14.

Thilan Samataweera then tickled a ball from Mitchell Johnson also to keeper Gilchrist for 13 with the score on 65.This was Johnson"s first wicket in Test cricket making his debut and did not his team mates join in the celebrations hugging him and urging him on for more! Johnson will always remember the wicket and Samaraweera 65 for 4.

While wickets were falling around him, Atapattu the former Sri Lanka captain was all concentration and straight bat play, attempting to consolidate. Runs came off his lovely cover driving and good placing. He was showing how cricket should be played at Test level.

But the best batting was seen when Chamara Silva joined Atapattu.Silva began to cut loose with some well timed cover drives and cuts,and when he should have mixed caution with aggression, he lost his way and popped a cut shot to Michael Clarke at cover who took a well judged catch.Silva made a quick 40 with 6 fours.Atapattu and Silva put on 54 for the fifth wicket.119 for 5.

Atapattu and Prasanna Jayawardena took the score to lunch on 124 for 5 - Atapattu 42 no and Jayawardena 5 no. After lunch Atapattu reached a well deserved 50,which was his 16th in Test cricket.But a run later trying to hook a short one from Johnson he holed out to Phil Jacques at short square leg.153 for six.

With the departure of Atapattu all resistance crumbled losing Maharoof bowled Symonds for 21 - 181 for 7, Vaas went bowled MacGill for 8 - 198 for 8.Jayawardena played well for his 37 with 5 fours when a stunning Yorker from Lee had him plum in front - 198 for 9 and then Muralitharan provided the laughs with some funny strokes in making six. Then Dilhara Fernando lofted Lee to Johnson for 7 and that ended Sri Lanka's misery at 211, giving Australia a lead of 340 runs.

Brett Lee had the good figures of 4 for 26,while Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clarke pouched 2 for 49 and 2 for 46.

AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS 
551 for 4 dec:

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS
(31 for 2 contd:)
M. Atapattu c Jacques b Johnson 	51
M.Jayawardena c Gilchrist b Clarke 	14
T.Samraweera c Gilchrist b Johnson 	13
C.Silva c M.Clarke b S.Clarke 		40 
P.Jayawardena LBW b Lee 		37
F.Mahroof b Symonds 			21
C.Vaas b MacGill			 9
D.Fernando c Johnson b Lee 		 7
M.Muralitheran not out 			 6
EXTRAS:					 7
TOTAL:				       211

FALL OF WICKETS: 45, 65, 119, 153, 181, 198, 198, 211

BOWLING: B.Lee 17.5-9-26-4,
	 M.Johnson 18-2-49-2,
	 S.MacGill  25-5-79-1,
	 S.Clarke 16-4-46-2,
	 A.Symonds 5-3-10-1
                
SRI LANKA - 2ND INNINGS
M.Atapttu c Gilchrist b Symonds 	16
S.Jayasuriya c Ponting b Lee 		39
M. Vandort not out 		 	15
M.Jayawardena not out 			 8           
EXTRAS:					 2
TOTAL: for 2 wkts at close) 		80

FALL OF WICKETS: 53, 65.

BOWLING: B.Lee 6-2-26-1,
	 M.Johnson 6-0-22-0,
	 S.C.Clarke 5-1-17-0,
	 A.Symonds 1-1-0-0,
	 S.MacGill 4-1-13-0.