Related Links : Sri Lanka’s Tour of Australia 2007/08 : Scorecard
Centuries from both Hussey and Clarke had taken Australia to a massive first innings total at the Gabba on the second day. Sri Lanka who have started their first innings are already in trouble losing two early wickets to Brett Lee. Sanath Jayasuriya and Michael Vandort have been dismissed by the fast bowler to have SL at 31 for 2 in reply to Australia’s 551 for 4 declared.
The overnight pair of Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke could only be separated before Tea with Sri Lanka getting only the wicket of the former on the second day. In the morning session, the left and right hand combo for Australia took the score from 242 for 3 to 359 for 3 with both batsmen completing their half centuries. And in the afternoon session, it was about converting the 50s into 100s as Sri Lanka gave up their hopes of bowling out the Aussies. The partnership was finally broken by Dilhara Fernando with Hussey spooning a catch at covers. Hussey by then had got 133 facing 249 balls with his runs coming from 13 fours and two sixes. After Hussey’s departure, Symonds came in and scored a breezy unbeaten 53 from 61 balls with 7 fours to raise Australia to 551 for 4 with declaration coming up after 151 overs of batting. Michael Clarke finished unbeaten on 145 which came in 249 balls with 14 fours and a six. All the four Sri Lankan frontline bowlers were taken for centuries. Muralitharan bowled as many as 50 overs in which he was taken for 170 runs!
Ponting managed to get in 16 overs at the Sri Lankan batsmen before close. Lee got both Jayasuriya (7 from 7 balls) and Vandort (0) caught behind. Sri Lanka closed the day at 31 for 2 with Atapattu on 19 and Skipper Mahela Jayawardene on 5.