The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Vandort, weather keep Sri Lanka afloat

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Monday, Nov 12, 2007
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Vandort, weather keep Sri Lanka afloat

Brisbane: Michael Vandort’s resilience and inclement weather halted an Aussie surge on the fourth day of the first Test at the Gabba.

When poor light ended play in Sunday’s final session, Sri Lanka was 218 for five, frustrating the host for most part of a truncated day.

Sri Lanka, following on, still trails Australia by 122 runs with a day remaining.

MacGill’s day

It was also a day when leg-spinner Stuart MacGill claimed his 200th Test victim, spinning one viciously from the rough to end Vandort’s (82, 170b, 10x4) vigil. The leg-spinner reached the 200-wicket landmark a Test earlier than Shane Warne.

MacGill has achieved the feat in his 41st Test; only Clarrie Grimmett, Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis have got to 200 Test wickets quicker.

Sri Lanka, which began the day at 80 for two, progressed to 167 without further loss when Mitchell Johnson struck.

The left-arm paceman found the edge of skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s blade for Adam Gilchrist to hold his 350th Test catch. Ian Healy and Mark Boucher are the other ‘keepers to have achieved the feat.

Jayawardene (49, 119b, 5x4), between phases of defence, produced some typically charming drives. Vandort continued to hold firm with some useful support from a dogged Thilan Samaraweera.

Samaraweera, however, failed to cement his place. His fierce cut off Johnson was well held by Michael Hussey at gully after an early fumble.

SCOREBOARD

Australia — 1st innings: 551 for four decl.

Sri Lanka — 1st innings: 211.

Sri Lanka — 2nd innings: S. Jayasuriya c Ponting b Lee 39, M. Atapattu c Gilchrist b Symonds 16, M. Vandort b MacGill 82, M. Jayawardene c Gilchrist b Johnson 49, T. Samaraweera c Hussey b Johnson 20, C. Silva (batting) 5, P. Jayawardene (batting) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-3): 7; Total (for five wkts. in 78 overs): 218.

Fall of wickets: 1-53, 2-65, 3-167, 4-213, 5-215.

Australia bowling: Lee 16-4-52-1, Johnson 19-5-47-2, Clark 12-3-27-0, Symonds 6-1-21-1, MacGill 25-3-64-1.

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