**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[Mister Wright]

Well done Marto (Linda you'll find I backed Marto all the way). He deserves all the plaudits with two great innings. However he is returning the favour for the Sri Lankans dropping a rather easy catch off Kaspa and gives Jayusaria a life, and he is making us pay now.

Come on MacGill - finish this off.

 

[mavric41]

Poor old Kaspa. He must be one of the most unlucky bowlers. He is bowling great, getting edges and when one goes to hand it gets dropped.

Still it is great attacking cricket by Sri Lanka. A run -rate of 4.5 an over and the Aussies are worried.

 

[SquidAU]

I would be worried to the way Jayasuriya is playing.......SL 3/160 and MacGill getting pasted! As usual......

 

[Swervy]

Jayasuria out...australia back in this i think

 

[Jono]

Damn, Jayasuriya should of taken them home. None the less as long as Sri Lanka don't get overly defensive they could very well win this match.

 

[Swervy]

warne has got through..aussies back on top

 

[scrumpy]

Come on MacGill - finish this off.

Stuart MacGill: 11-0-65-0

 

[Craig]

Sri Lanka 244-6 needing another 108 to win with four wickets in hand.

Could go either way and I have a feeling this will be close especially if Vaas can hang in with Dilshan.

 

[scrumpy]

Trying to keep track of this one and Pakistan-India, they could both go all the way. Can`t really see Sri Lanka winning at the moment, tho`. These two need to add another 40 or 50 to give them a realistic chance. We could see Australia claiming the extra half hour tonight.

 

[Slow Love™]

Holy crap, I hope that Murali/Vaas partnership from the first innings doesn't come back to haunt us.

Things are getting a little close for comfort - sounds like John Dyson's prediction of being confident of chasing 325 was pretty close - hopefully 350 is enough, but its gonna be a close call.

 

[SquidAU]

They got 66 runs more to get with 3 wickets in hand. C'mon Aussies!!

 

[scrumpy]

They`ve gone off for bad light: 301 for 7.

No surprise that they took it but the Aussie bowlers will be fired up tomorrow morning and may finish it quickly.

 

[PY]

Then again, Vaas could complete his second fifty of the game.

One must not forget the Mighty Murali is still to enter the fray. :P

Vaas for MOTM if Sri Lanka pull this off.

 

[mavric41]

What a great match!!

Too close to call.

 

[Slow Love™]

I just read that the Sri Lankans claimed a low catch at slip off Kasprowicz earlier in the day, but that Kaspa refused to budge, and the umpire couldn't make the call, so he survived.

I seem to remember Ponting making a decree prior to the series that the Aussie batsmen would trust the fielders and walk if they claimed a catch - or was that my imagination?

Not a whole lot of runs to play with tomorrow - I hope we're not on the end of another record run chase. Vaas is playing a great game.

 

[Slow Love™]

I found more info on the Kasprowicz decision. Apparently, per Ponting's edict, Kaspa DID walk, but Bucknor motioned him back, and called for the third umpire.

Just like about all these referrals, the third umpire was unable to reach a conclusive decision, and gave Kasprowicz not out.

Now I realise that technically, Bucknor has to respond to the appeal and give the batsman out in order to complete the dismissal, but this seems the latest in a string of erratic decisions from the man. Surely he must have known that the third umpire almost never gives these decisions out - the Sri Lankans were sure they had him, and the batsman was happy to walk, so does he really need to intervene in that process? I don't know.

 

[Kenny]

Then again, Vaas could complete his second fifty of the game.
Vaas for MOTM if Sri Lanka pull this off.

Absolutely - he has bowled and batted very very well in this match.
Because of Murali's feats, Vaas is often underrated - his importance to this Sri Lankan side cannot be understated.

 

[Arrow]

Great stuff from sanath.
I was convinced he was a shot duck,but he clearly isnt.
What a brutal knock.

 

[Eclipse]

That droped catch of Jayusuriya could cost Australia the game.

 

[Slow Love™]

Vaas and Zoysa back in the pavilion - Lokuarachchi and Murali have to make 32 runs. Australia with their noses in front, but both these guys can score runs.