Michael Hussey century in Australia’s 450 for 5 dec.:

Lanka need 164 to avert follow on

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

The Sri Lankans are up against it. After allowing Australia to make 450 for 5, are 87 for 4 still requiring a further 164 runs to avoid the follow on and make Australia bat again and keep their chances of saving the game alive on the second day of the First Test, here today.

At the wicket is Tillekeratne Dilshan playing a fighting innings making an unbeaten 50. The Lankans in their turn lost Dimuth Karunaratne for 14 caught behind by Matthew Wade off Ben Hilfenhaus pushing forward tentatively at 25 and at 42 and 70 Australia caught the big fish in Kumar Sangakkara who snicked Peter Siddle to Hussy in the gully 4 and Mahela Jayewardene who was LBW to Shane Watson for 12.

In the last over, Thilan Samaraweera attempting a cut was taken by Wade behind off, off spinner Nathan Lyon for 7.

Sri Lanka’ s first hurdle will be to get 251 and avoid the ignominy of a follow on. That will be a big ask. They have the batsmen who could see them over that hurdle.

The wicket is playing easy and if the batsmen put their heads down and play the way we know they can, then there is no reason why they could not go beyond the follow on mark and play out a respectable draw.

When the Lankans allowed Australia to make 450 for 5, they kicked any chances they had of probing for their first ever Test victory on Aussie land.

But all is not lost. The Aussie fortress was built on a solid century from Michael Hussey who was involved in a 6th wicket stand of 146 with Matthew Wade 68. Hussey made back to back hundreds against South Africa and continued that blazing form with another three figure score.

AMAZING, Overnight showers

As predicted there were showers overnight and early this morning and while the wicket was covered the ground was wet and a prompt start was not possible. And at the time of starting it was overcast with a few drops of rain falling. However the ground staff worked hard from morning, rolling and using all equipment to get the ground dry and fit for play and after a 50 minute delay, the clouds had rolled over and when umpires Tony Hill and Nigel Llong walked out, the sun was shining.

To recap Australia ended the first day in a promising position of 299 for 4 with the two Michaels, Clarke and Hussey unbeaten on 70 and 37 respectively, having added 101 and looking good for a lot more runs.

Attack lacked sting

That was after David Warner 57, Philip Hughes 86 and Shane Watson 30 had put them on rails for a big score negotiating a Sri Lanka attack that lacked sting and penetration to cause early damage by using the early life, seam and swing that was available. The Lankans needed to breakthrough early, if they were to be in the picture and were off to a great start when with the addition of five runs, Shamindra Eranga moved one away to kiss the edge of Michael Clarke’s bat for Kumar Sangakkara to take a low catch at first slip. Clarke made 74 with 7 fours, 145 balls in 165 minute. The wicket that was kept covered had early life and movement and Eranga who is the fastest on show and Nuwan Kulesekera kept the ball up and gained movement to trouble the batsmen.

Clarke who has had a dream run with the bat this summer with back to back double hundreds against a stinging South African pace attack, was not his usual fluent self after being hit on his left leg by a snorter from Eranga with the second new ball later one day one and his movement was restricted. Clarke was the only man out before lunch.

Left handers Michael Hussey and Matthew wade joined forces to deprive Sri Lanka of any further success and took lunch on 364 for 5 with Hussey on 66 and Wade on31.

In the pre lunch session the Lankan bowlers bowled tight and had the batsmen on a tight leash and did not let them break free and play the attacking strokes that they are renowned for.

Sad reflection

But the Lankans would have loved to have more wickets before lunch. That they failed to do so was a sad reflection on their bowlers, who other than for restricting the batsmen hadn’t the sting to lure them out. In the 100 minutes play possible Australia were able to add only 65 runs.

During the lunch break there was another downpour and play was delayed. The ground staff swept the water off the covers that covered the wicket running the super sopper and play started 80 minutes after the normal starting time.

After lunch and with the lights being switched on Hussey and Wade waded into the Lankan attack and quickened the pace and runs were coming and coming at a healthy rate which would have been to the liking of skipper Clarke who would have been contemplating a declaration.

Hussey century

Hussey known as ‘Mr. Cricket’ should now be tagged ‘Mr. Reliable’ because of his consistency with the bat. He scored his 19th Test century when he pulled Eranga to the mid wicket boundary. The fielder there, Angelo Mathews could have taken the catch, but over balanced and knocked the ball over for four.

With the Australian score on 450 and the 6th wicket stand worth 146, Clarke called the batsmen in. Hussey was unbeaten on 115 made in 184 balls, with 8 fours and a six in 299 minutes. Wicket keeper batsman Matthew Wade who gave Hussey good support was unbeaten with a well made 68 with 5 fours in 135 balls in 157 minutes.

Hussey and Wade were studies in concentration and their running between the wickets was exemplary.

Openers Dimuth Karunaratne 13 and Tillekeratne Dilshan 8 negotiated the 25 minutes before tea without any hiccups. Bellerive Oval, Hobart, Saturday

SCOREBOARD
	AUSTRALIA - 1ST INNINGS
	 (299 FOR 4 OVERNIGHT)
Warner run out (Mathews)		 57
E. Cowan c Eranga b Welegedara		 04
P. Hughes b Welegedara			 86
S. Watson c M. Jayawardene b Welegedara	 30
Clarke c Sangakkara b Eranga 		 74
Hussey not out				115
Wade not out				 68
Extras (b1, lb3, w1, nb11)		 16
Total (5 wkts declared, 131 overs)	450

Fall of wickets: 1-18 (Cowan), 2-97 (Warner), 3-183 (Watson), 4-198 (Hughes), 5-304 (Clarke).

Did not bat: P. Siddle, M. Starc, N. Lyon, B. Hilfenhaus.

Bowling: Kulasekara 32-2-80-0 (5nb, 1w),Welegedara 26-1-130-3 (4nb), Eranga 25-5-90-1 (2nb), 
	 Mathews 15-3-41-0, Dilshan 7-0-30-0, Herath 26-4-75-0.

	SRI LANKA - 1ST INNINGS
Karunaratne c Wade b Hilfenhaus		 14
T. Dilshan not out			 50
K. Sangakkara c Hussey b Siddle		 04
Jayawardene lbw b Watson		 12
T. Samaraweera c Wade b Lyon		 07
Extras					 00
Total (4 wkts, 29.1 overs)		 87

Fall of wickets: 1-25 (Karunaratne), 2-42 (Sangakkara), 3-70 (Jayawardene), 4-87 (Samaraweera).

Bowling: Starc 7-1-30-0, Hilfenhaus 9-3- 18-1, Lyon 2.1-2-0-1, Siddle 6-1-23-1, Watson 5-1-16-1.

To bat: A. Mathews, P. Jayawardene, N.Kulasekara, R. Herath, S. Eranga, C. Welegedara.

Umpires: Nigel Llong (ENG), Tony Hill (NZL)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG)

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