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Day 2: Atapattu leads SL's reply

Saturday, July 10 2004

Sri Lanka fought back well on Day 2 of the Second Test in Cairns to finish on 2/184 in reply to Australia's first innings of 517 all out. Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu led the reply with a disciplined unbeaten 75, after Upul Chandana and Lasith Malinga finished off Australia's innings earlier in the day.

Resuming their overnight position of 2/370, Australia would have hoped to score much more than their eventual 517. Justin Langer looked to add to his 159*, but managed only three more before slashing at a delivery from Malinga to be well caught by Jayawardene. Damien Martyn was far more assured, progressing from his overnight 56* with fluent strokeplay and heading towards a seemingly inevitable century. He raced to 97 from just 123 deliveries, but missed out on being the third centurion of the innings, trapped in front by Chandana and given out by umpire Aleem Dar.

The dismissal of Langer buoyed the Sri Lankan bowlers and precipitated a collapse. Katich (1) was next to fall, tied down for 20 balls before swinging across the line to Chandana and getting bowled. Darren Lehmann's aggressive approach contrasted with Katich's, and he enjoyed greater success, bringing up his third half-century of the series. Again, however, he failed to turn that into a big innings, and fell on 50 lofting Chandana into Sangakkara's hands at long on, having faced just 56 balls.

The Australian tail lacked discipline, unlike the bowling of Chandana and Malinga; Warne, Gillespie and Kasprowicz all fell in single figures as Australia lost 6/31. Kasprowicz's dismissal gave Chandana his 5-wicket haul, his second in Tests. Their dismissals spurred Gilchrist into action, as he controlled the strike brilliantly, crashing two fours and as many sixes before he was last to fall for 35 from only 34 deliveries. Glenn McGrath needed only face 3 balls in the 32-run 10th wicket stand.

Sanath Jayasuriya kickstarted Sri Lanka's innings with three consecutive boundaries of Jason Gillespie's first over. Gillespie soon got his revenge, however, as Jayasuriya could only manage to fend a rising delivery outside off-stump into the hands of 'keeper Adam Gilchrist, diving across first slip.

That dismissal brought Gilchrist's Sri Lankan counterpart Kumar Sangakkara to the crease, the latter having earlier scored an unbeaten double-century in a warm-up game. After negotiating lively spells from Gillespie and McGrath, both batsmen settled down, looking comfortable against Warne in particular. Atapattu played anchor and Sangakkara aggressor, as the pair added 138 for the second wicket in just over 40 overs. Sangakkara's aggression eventually got the better of him, as he fell attempting to swing Warne into the deep, only to be caught by Gillespie for 74 off 115 balls.

Jayawardene stayed with his captain 'til the close, to leave Sri Lanka 333 runs in arrears with eight wickets in hand. Their hopes will depend largely on this current partnership; a more disciplined bowling performance from the Australian quicks could see the Sri Lankan middle-order struggle.

Progress Score: Stumps Day 2

Australia (1st Innings): 517a.o. (Langer 162, Hayden 117, Martyn 97; Chandana 5/109, Malinga 4/148)
Sri Lanka (1st Innings): 2/184 (Atapattu 75*, Sangakkara 74; Gillespie 1/57, Warne 1/59)
Australia lead by 333 runs

Posted by Adam