A century by Tillakaratne Dilshan was not enough to prevent hosts Australia from taking a substantial lead going into the fourth day of the Hobart Test match against his Sri Lanka.
We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout this game, with the fourth day starting at 10.00 am local.
Australia would have gone into the third day thinking of finishing off the Sri Lankan first innings for a song, but Dilshan and Angelo Mathews resisted for more than 56 overs. Mathews’ 75 supported Dilshan’s 15th Test match century for the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s fightback on the third day.
At one stage, the home team looked bereft of ideas and of bowling options, especially after Ben Hilfenahaus left the field early in the day because of a side strain.
He did not take field again and it was left to Peter Siddle and others to eke out the remaining Sri Lankan wickets.
Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for 20 runs or the damage could have been a lot worse for the hosts.
At 6/316, they were in a decent position to chisel off the Australian lead to manageable levels. Instead, Siddle scalped the last three of four wickets and helped Australia earn a 114-run lead over their opposition.
In their second innings Australia were 27 without loss, having pushed their advantage over their opposition to 141 with ten second innings wickets standing.
The pitch did not deteriorate as much as one would have expected but Australia are still sitting pretty going into the penultimate day. They will be aiming at setting a target of around 350 with a day and half a session to bowl at the visitors.
To do that though, they will need to shun a bit of their defensive approach that was on display for the 14 overs that they batted. Therein will lie Sri Lanka’s chance to bag a few early wickets and put the pressure back on Australia.
We will bring you the live coverage throughout the game from Hobart and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
These 2 are the key. If Australia can get 1 of them its game over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And that is the end of that, a maiden over to end the day as Sri Lanka end the day at 2/65, in their chase of 393 for a win. An absorbing day of Test cricket and one that saw the pitch deteriorate a little more. Batting on the fifth day may not be too easy but Australia will be mindful of how they rotate their limited bowling options. 323 more needed for a win and it will be interesting to see if Sri Lanka will go for a victory or look to take it to the final session with loads of wicket intact before deciding on the course of action. Personally I think they will bat in a manner not too different from what they did today after the loss of T Dilshan and try and play out the day's play. They will probably be watching the highlights of the Adelaide Test whole evening too. Tomorrow's play begins at 10.10 am AEDST. I will be back with the fifth day's play.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Right so one more over remaining here. Watson will bowl this one. 2/65
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That is outside the off and Jayawardene cuts it hard through the slips. That is a 400% increase in his strike-rate.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Michael Hussey comes on now as a change-up. Sanga has a wide slip for him. Jayawardene batting on 1 from 33, Sanga's moved on 18 from 83.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
35 overs of the Sri Lankan innings are gone and Sri Lanka are 2/60. Three more overs to go for the day.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Siddle and Watson are bowling well here, making the batsmen to play most of them. The batsmen are doing well with those outside the off but for the ones on the stump, they have to get their feet out to play 'em on the front foot. Bat-pad probably?
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Michael Slater on Channel Nine: "It is treacherous out there" and for once he is not exaggerating.
Jason
Guest
I think we might regret that dropped catch off Sanga.
jameswm
Guest
Not good news for Wade either.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A wicket here, or even tomorrow morning and suddenly, the pressure to bat out time rather than score runs will be back on. And the pitch is seriously misbehaving now. Sri Lanka will be tempted into playing the way they are by one other factor - rain. They will know that with inclement weather always a possibility, they could have a good chance of playing much lesser than the 90 odd overs remaining.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Watson comes on and what do we have here? It has rolled over to the keeper and no it is not Trevor Chappell with the ball. From round the stumps and the ball hits a crack and just dies. Goes at shin height to the keeper.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Where did Shane Warne come from? That was a leg-spinner from Siddle at 140 km/hr. Hits a crack probably and explodes away at a degree that would make most spinners proud! 2/57
Red Kev
Guest
If they get 1 run an over for the rest of the day they leaves them 110 a session tomorrow, that is easily gettable just batting normally.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Starc's off and Siddle has been brought back into the attack now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Short from Lyon and Sanga has flashed it away to the deep point fence for a four. Finally a loose ball in an otherwise tough bowling spell and he gets it away. 2/57
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Whoa, after all those that have gone flat on the pitch, bouncing two or three times before getting to the keeper, here is one that jumps up and hitting him on his chest! My, my, that is not good news going into the final day tomorrow. For Sri Lanka that is. 2/52 in the 28th.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The way Sri Lanka have batted so far, it looks like they have pulled their shutters down. They are looking to bat the remaining time today and the 90 plus overs tomorrow to save the game than go for the win.
Matt
Guest
I wouldn't be surprised. The mind boggles. I'd rather a wicket or two a match then 10 or so extra runs though!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The bowling has been tight since the last wicket and the runs have been hard to come by until... ...until Starc gets one very full and drifting on to his pads, and Sanga glances it down the boundary at fine-leg, for a four! 2/52 in 26