Aus in Lanka

First topic message reminder :

that's another interesting test series started
Aus does well in Lanka generally and inspite of playing 4 specialist bowlers only.....they bowled out lankans for only 117
that's a huge bonus after having to bowl first.

Lyon continues to perform with steady consistency

if they do get only 2 session of play....and that's quite likely.....then defeat gets a little bit out of the equation for lanka...185 runs in 60 overs on such a pitch is not gettable easily

guildfordbat wrote:

msp83 wrote:Australia need another 185 runs, and Sri Lanka 7 wickets on the last day. Going by the weather pattern, its about 2 sessions of play time available. This partnership is the absolute key for Australia. If they can push the side pass 150, then Australia would be in with a very good chance. But if they get one of them early tomorrow, Sri Lanka will have Marsh, the wicketkeeper and the lower order to target....... None of them are great against spin.

Hi msp, haven't chatted for a while. No disagreements there. My gut feel though is that Australia have at this stage lost one wicket too many and it'll be difficult for them to get back on top.

Hi Guildford, Indeed its been some time. Haven't been regular over here after the England-SA series. Just became active with the India-WI, Eng-Pak and the SL-Aus series all coming together. And we have another test series going in Zimbabwe, where NZ are playing. Only SA and Bangladesh are not in action.......
Anyways, expect it to be a very tough struggle for Austrlia, but they are the number 1 side for a reason, can never count them out, particularly as 2 of their best hope survived the day to live on and fight on a new day.

Yeah, Lankan defeat seems the least likely result at this point, particularly considering the weather pattern. And if they want, the Lankans can slow things down and make sure 60 overs are not bowled in by the time the rain/bad light would come in. And if Australia start playing for the draw and go into a defensive mindset, they will have no chance!

Not mentioned enough - but Russell Arnold easily the worst commentator in cricket at the moment

The key tomorrow is Steven Smith.

He could win the game for Australia. Or, as is far more likely, he departs in the first hour like the flat-track bully, and thoroughly overrated batsman, that he is so obviously is. Which will lead to an Aussie collapse and a SriLankan victory.

That's a little unfair to Smith , Duty.

He has had his difficulties in tough batting conditions ; but most batsmen tend to do better when they play on flat batsman friendly pitches
It is the contrast between his huge scores at home - and on "good" pitches overseas - and his failures on seaming or spinning surfaces , that lead to him being rated below some of the other current top players . But one should point out that Kohli failed in England ; and Root did nothing in Australia on his first visit...nearly everyone is better in their familiar home conditions.
If he can win this for Australia he will go up a notch...

As Voges departs that outcome is looking less likely !

Don't want to jinx Marsh ; but he's started rather well. Couple of lovely drives for boundaries , and he's put a bit of pressure back on Sri Lanka,

At 122/4 Australia are still in this : no vicious spin evident at present and both players looking quite composed. Of course one wicket would change things quickly ; but despite the loss of Voges Australia might be happier now than they were overnight - 39 runs added so far today , and scoring seems easier than yesterday...

Review : this looks out ...

Marsh gone ! For once Matthews chooses a right time to refer

Marsh played well ; but that swings it back in the home team's favour ...very much up to Smith now for Australia.

Steven Smith is still out there, leading his team' on. Nevill is a fighter, and Starc can bat. Lyon will sure make you get his wicket. And the Australians bloody hate losing. They haven't lost to Lanka more than ones in 33 years, they even came back from a nearly 300 first innings lead to win a test ones.
Sri Lanka, if they are to win this one, will have to really fight and earn it.

And now another good review ...this time Smith saves himself as he is wrongly judged to have feathered one behind...but reprieved as clear daylight twixt bat and ball.
Tough for umpires here too.

Hope this light and rain situation allows enough play as this match deserves a winner

After some obnoxious reviews from both sides in the first innings, a fw sensible ones here. Smith has survived with a review, massive moment in the game.
Will the weather gods spoil the party? Think they want to come in early.......

Smith gone now though ....

Herath pins him . Reviews again ; but this is stone dead

And so , I think , is Australia

As you say , msp ; Nevill is a fighter. But hard to see him and the bowlers saving this one now.

Think the best Australia can hope for now is to survive until bad light curtails proceedings.

Herath having a terrific match : good bowling to undo Smith then

And now Starc goes ! Sandakan strikes on the stroke of lunch ...and only rain can save Australia now.

Veteran Herath at it again! With Smith done in with a fine delivery, they would need something outrageous to turn around the course of the game that is going towards a Lanka win. The weather might still become a factor and that if happens, would be seriously unfortunate.
And just as I type, the Lankans get one step closer as Australia are 7 down.

Hope the rain would stay away long enough for a result.

141-7
it's a hard pitch to survive...even the runs that came from Voges and Smith were with the luck of some hallf chances missed and close-one saved by DRS.
Point is difficult to get set on this pitch....balls are jagging sharply off the picth....there is bounce that has turned a bit uneven...close-ins are always sniffing a chance coming....

Herath and Sandakan are more difficult because of their variations they spin both ways and it's very hard where among the other difficulties of the pitch ....you don't know for sure which way the ball will spin

Aus will fall for less than 175

You have to think that the weather is the only thing that can stop Sri Lanka now. Looked very dark and gloomy as they went off for lunch.

Agree with KP_f about Herath and Sandakan being a good combo. Before they really got into things in the last half hour or so, Australia were beginning to give the impression that they might just do it. Marsh seemed pretty assured as he chipped away at the total - his was an important wicket as it opened the door.

i watched quite closely when India toured lanka last year and after pulling out defeat from the jaws of victory in T1......came back to win next two tight games.

In general the pitches in SL are very sporting and balanced these days

always assistance for seamers, some bounce, good help for spinners and  yet batsman with application can get 100s. This is a remarkable turn around in character of pitches from a decade back when 500 runs was a norm.

WI on the other hand have the most placid pitches....although they are promising a green pitch for the Jamacia test tonight

Looks a little brighter after lunch.

Dropped catch at square leg then...would have nearly wrapped it up if that had stuck. But you'd think Sri Lanka have time to take three wickets still...Sandakan not an easy bowler for tailenders to defend against.

Hi guildford

Agree Australia were looking a chance when Marsh was set ; though I always had the feeling that a ball was going to misbehave at some point , or one of them would make an error ...and I felt they needed to get the score up around 200 before letting Herath and Sandakan at the tail.
Which is perhaps a little unfair to Nevill ; but you know what I mean...

Good innings from Smith today , rather against type. But he needed to make 100 to get them over the line ; and that was a tall order on this.

No easy way through Nevill and Lyon. O'Keefe didn't come in at 9 interestingly, will he bat?

Lyon the fifteenth lbw for the match...pointless review .

Fat Lady warming up...

Sandakan gets Lyon, Australia 8 down!

msp83 wrote:No easy way through Nevill and Lyon. O'Keefe didn't come in at 9 interestingly, will he bat?

Yes.

And battling away pretty well so far. Pleased to see they aren't giving up and throwing away their wickets : the chances are there won't be much play left after tea ; so if they can hold out ...

A long time to resist , still. And while most balls are coming down normally , the occasional one does something tricky.
Might be time to try a different bowler for a couple of overs , just for variety ? Ah yes ....here comes de Silva

Think Mathews should give Pradeep an over or 2 to get through this stubborn lower order partnership. Nevill and O'Keefe aren't making it any easier for Sri Lanka....... And weatherwise, if Australia can survive about an hour or so, think they will be safe.......

Admirable concentration and resistance from Nevill and O'Keefe. No thoughts of having a slog and seeing what happens - just the mindset of we're here to stay unless and until you change that.

Feel that one wicket will soon lead to another but Sri Lanka have to get one of these two first. Sri Lanka now changing the bowling further - that's good as it may impact the batters' reading of the ball. Appeals though getting louder and at times a bit desperate - pressure starting to build on the bowling side, particularly with the threat of weather intervening.

A really enthralling Test and, at least for the neutral, dodgy weather making it even more so.

He heard you , msp

Pradeep has a bowl. Strange Perera hasn't bowled ?

Wonder when Sri Lanka start to get anxious ? Light fine at present ; but there hasn't been much action after tea in this match ...

Even Pradeep can't bring the breakthrough for Lanka. Australia, assisted by the weather, might just be able to save this one by the look of things.

Makes sense to change the bowling around. Apart from presenting a new challenge for the bats it allows Herath a bit of a rest : I have a feeling he might be the one to finish things when he comes back on.

And here he is...

As the weather is getting ready to intervene, think Australia are minutes away from safety. The weather hasn't quite reached there yet, but it should be on any time soon.

The partnership has negotiated more than 100 balls reports cricinfo. Impressive fighting spirit from the Australians, don't forget O'Keefe is injured and is playing his last parts in the series.

Gaffney looking at the replay of it hitting the pad for about three minutes when on first view it clearly hits the pad first - this is the problem with DRS, the umpires have absolutely no idea how to use it

And he doesn't even go to ball tracking - clearly pad first, is he blind?

Review called : only six overs to new ball so worth the risk I think .

Could be close ? Pad first , but probably will survive on umpires call...

Taking up time though. Surprised : didn't even go to ball tracking . Not sure i agree with that call : pretty sure it hit pad first.

Drinks . Australia hanging on well.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Gaffney looking at the replay of it hitting the pad for about three minutes when on first view it clearly hits the pad first - this is the problem with DRS, the umpires have absolutely no idea how to use it

Effectively taking three minutes out of the game as the weather will surely not allow a full day's play.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:And he doesn't even go to ball tracking - clearly pad first, is he blind?

I see you agree , Olly

Matthews must wish he hadn't called that review : just wasted five minutes ; and now drinks come on. Would like to see what hawk eye thought of that appeal ?

Why don't Sri Lanka have every single man in the general vicinity of the batsman?!

Sri Lanka are getting mugged.

They need these two wickets in before tea.

Duty281 wrote:Why don't Sri Lanka have every single man in the general vicinity of the batsman?!

They had a man on the boundary! Wasn't impressed by Matthews captaincy in England, very defensive

Nevill and O'Keefe are resisting hard, and Sri Lanka are being denied by the weather and the 3rd umpire as well. New ball, when its available, will Angelo take it?

What an incredibly awful decision by Kettleborough

And using that review may just have cost Sri Lanka the match ! A short leg catch turned down - wrongly : and no referral left in the kit...

I did say yesterday they needed to be careful with reviews .

alfie wrote:And using that review may just have cost Sri Lanka the match !  A short leg catch turned down - wrongly : and no referral left in the kit...

I did say yesterday they needed to be careful with reviews .

Talk about reviews all you want - that is just awful club standard umpiring from Kettleborough - he's hit the face off it!

msp83 wrote:Nevill and O'Keefe are resisting hard, and Sri Lanka are being denied by the weather and the 3rd umpire as well. New ball, when its available, will Angelo take it?

Of course. Will actually help : apart from Pradeep, some extra bounce for the spinners...

Escape getting closer for Australia.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:And using that review may just have cost Sri Lanka the match !  A short leg catch turned down - wrongly : and no referral left in the kit...

I did say yesterday they needed to be careful with reviews .

Talk about reviews all you want - that is just awful club standard umpiring from Kettleborough - he's hit the face off it!

Well yes : but that is what reviews are for. Which is why you don't waste them on fishing expeditions...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:And using that review may just have cost Sri Lanka the match !  A short leg catch turned down - wrongly : and no referral left in the kit...

I did say yesterday they needed to be careful with reviews .

Talk about reviews all you want - that is just awful club standard umpiring from Kettleborough - he's hit the face off it!

It's funny, I thought after all the fuss about Broad that Australians always walked!

But O'Keefe is gone now ! Surely ?

Plumb. But an inside edge ! Saved .

Everything happening

Another inside edge denies Sri Lanka.

Is it just not meant to be?

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:And using that review may just have cost Sri Lanka the match !  A short leg catch turned down - wrongly : and no referral left in the kit...

I did say yesterday they needed to be careful with reviews .

Talk about reviews all you want - that is just awful club standard umpiring from Kettleborough - he's hit the face off it!

It's funny, I thought after all the fuss about Broad that Australians always walked!

that pad first review was a howler from the umpire

and that resulted in lanka losing the review for the clear bat-pad

just sub-standard umpirign