Related Links : Sri Lanka’s Tour of Australia 2007/08 : Scorecard
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.