Fri, 16 Sep 2011 - Sri Lanka vs Australia, Australia Tour of Sri Lanka 2011, 3rd Test - Bulletin

MATCH DRAWN : Sri Lanka*: 473 - 7 / 0 in 2.0 overs RR: 3.50,Australia: 316 - 488 in 138.5 overs RR: 3.52

Australia manage draw to win series 1-0

Micheal Clarke’s master class on the fifth day spinning pitch helped his side to bat Sri Lanka out of game and secure a draw. The result gave Clarke maiden test series victory as Australian skipper and shot up his team to fourth place in ICC test rankings.

Clarke, who scored 15th test ton-first as a captain- put on marathon 176 for the fifth wicket with Michael Hussey to shut the door on the home team. Continuing on his super run making form in the series, Hussey was unlucky to miss out fourth century of the series, second of the match, by seven runs but played an important role to help his side to a series win by a margin of 1-0, first post Ricky Ponting captaincy era.

On the spinning SCG pitch having turn and bounce, the home team bowlers were made to toil hard but eventually managed to get Australia all-out for imposing 488 thanks to left arm spinner Rangana Herath’s 7 for 157 in 52 overs. That meant a huge target of 332 in last 70 minutes and after two overs from Aussie bowlers, both teams agreed for a draw.

Clarke’s super knock was laced with some nifty footwork, hallmark of his batting over the years, coupled with perfect placement. Hussey innings was more workman-like running hard and in between dispatching bad balls for boundaries.

Early in the morning, the hosts’ aim to draw level the series got a boost when Herath dismissed overnight unbeaten centurion Philip Hughes whose top-edge was gobbled at backward square-leg when opener tried to sweep turning and bouncing delivery. The opener could add only four to his overnight total and departed for a well constructed, and, perhaps, his career reviving knock of 126 coming off 220 balls and laced with 16 fours and a six. Things could have been different had Prasana Jayawerdena not missed a stumping chance of Clarke off Herath next over. The Australian skipper was batting on 15 then.

The reprieve refreshed his approach as Clarke used his feet ever so purposefully to hit Herath off line and length. The left arm spinner succumbed to Clarke’s attacking instincts and doled out some hittable stuff which batsman capitalized on. Clarke dumped Herath twice in space of three overs, one with the old ball that brought his fifty, into stands behind the bowler and played some gorgeous cover drives to ensure his team’s safety. Even new ball couldn’t deter Clarke’s intentions creaming Suranga Lakmal for two boundaries in one over.

Hussey was at usual self nudging and dabbing for singles and doubles and hitting bowlers when presented with an opportunity. The pair went to lunch with their team leading by 146 runs and almost throwing remote chances of the home team win out of window.

Post lunch the Aussie skipper continued on his aggressive intents dumping Herath for his third six, and, that moment, it seemed Australia were harbouring endeavors of surprising win. Clarke ended his century drought hitting Herath facing 130th ball of his innings over wide mid-on for four and raised his bat in satisfaction. After reaching the milestone, Clarke, surprisingly slowed down and made his intentions he was playing for a draw.

It was Herath ended Clarke’s match saving innings having him caught off top-edge for 112 off 178 including 14 fours and three sixes for his fifth wicket. His dismissal followed another productive stand of 52 between Hussey and Brad Haddin before T Dilshan’s got Hussey for 93 aided by Chanaka Welegedera who completed a terrific running catch in the deep.

Welegedera then had success with the ball removing Mitchell Johnson and had wickets of Haddin and Peter Siddle to complete his seven wicket haul. Shaminda Eranga ended the innings with Trent Copeland’s wickets.

All those wickets came late with Australia already driven to the world of safety.

Day 4: Bulletin on next page