The Sri Lankan Captain T.M.Dilshan dithered on what a good lead would be to declare this morning, even as Anjelo Mathews consumed precious time on Monday morning to bring up his century. This game could end in a draw,and it will be because Sri Lanka did not back itself up and declare. Anjelo, in line for captaincy, looked more interested in his personal landmark than in the team pulling level in this series.
Angelo Mathews, one of the two Sri Lankan batsmen who held the side together in this series against Australia, and the tail were in the middle for close to 20 overs and the addition to the total was less than 50.
And, if Sri Lanka is not left with enough time to chase down the target set by Australia – that is if the Aussies fold up on Tuesday morning – then, Anjelo will not need to look any further to find out who stood between a possible thrilling victory and a dreary draw.
Australia were barely 52 runs ahead in their second innings at the end of Day 4 in the last and final test of the three test series against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds here on Monday. The Aussies lost 3 wickets for 209 runs.
The Aussie second innings began well with the opening pair putting on 62 runs in even time, despite the fact that Phillip Hughes (122 not out) was on a pair when he came on to bat. He has no 50 to his name in the past 10 innings and he has struggled through this series. But the placid pitch rarely threatened him, and he looked comfortable against the only decent spinner in the game, Ranganna Herath.
Herath managed to trouble all the other batsmen and M.Clarke looks particularly awkward against him. But he survived the day.
Earlier, four early wickets for Australia, and a lead of over 150 for Sri Lanka set the stage for an interesting day’s game on the fourth day. The Sri Lankan first innings closed at 473 runs, in reply to Australia’s 316 all out.
The day began with the solid-looking S.Eranga departing, dragging a Siddle fuller delivery into the wicket after making 12. R.Herath was trapped leg before by Siddle, for 3 and a bad mix-up between Anjelo Mathews and C.Welegedara meant that Welegedara had to leave. Mathews was then on 95, as S.Lakmal, the last man in, faced four anxious deliveries.
Mathews brought up his hundred in 256 balls, 388 minutes. Mathews had started his day on 85 runs off 205 balls and remained not out on 105
The next few overs saw similar fields and it was clear that Australia was being defensive. Mathews did not opt for the slog. He instead was in the compiling mode – and it was clear later in the day that this is not what his team wanted.
Scoreboard
Australia — 1st innings: 316.
Sri Lanka — 1st innings: T. Paranavitana c Ponting b Johnson 46, L. Thirimanne b Siddle 28, K. Sangakkara c Haddin b Siddle 79, M. Jayawardene c Haddin b Watson 51, T. Dilshan c Haddin b Copeland 83, A. Mathews (not out) 105, P. Jayawardene c Clarke b Copeland 47, S. Eranga b Siddle 12, R. Herath lbw b Siddle 3, C. Welegedara (run out) 1, S. Lakmal b Johnson 13; Extras (b-1, lb-2, nb-2): 5; Total (in 174 overs): 473.
Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-97, 3-198, 4-210, 5-331, 6-412, 7-436, 8-444, 9-450.
Australia bowling: Copeland 40-10-93-2, Siddle 35-8-91-4, Johnson 35-6-122-2, Watson 26-8-54-1, Lyon 34-5-91-0, Hussey 2-1-5-0, Ponting 2-0-14-0.
Australia — 2nd innings: S. Watson lbw b Herath 21, P. Hughes (batting) 122, S. Marsh c Thirimanne b Herath 18, R. Ponting c M. Jayawardene b Herath 28, M. Clarke (batting) 8; Extras (lb-7, w-5): 12; Total (for three wkts. in 68 overs): 209
Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-122, 3-188.
Sri Lanka bowling: Eranga 8-0-42-0, Lakmal 10-1-31-0, Welegedara 14-3-46-0, Herath 26-7-54-3, Dilshan 10-0-29-0.
