Sri Lanka fought hard with the ball but Australia pushed ahead by close of play on the second day of the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
We’ll bring you the live scores of the action throughout this game, with the third day starting at 10.30 am AEST on January 5.
At one stage in the day, Australia looked to have taken full control of the game thanks to Dave Warner and Phil Hughes’ 80s. Warner in particular was at his destructive best and used up only 84 balls for his 85, while Hughes made 87.
This was after Ed Cowan was run out for four, the third time this series he has been involved in such a dismissal.
At 1/166 Australia would have fancied another score of more than 450 – after having gotten there twice this series already – but the Sri Lankans clawed back with regular wickets.
Michael Clarke helped himself to another half-century but a change of year brought his opponents a change in fortune. He did not add anything to his 50, only the third time since January 2011 he hasn’t converted a half into a hundred.
Michael Hussey scored 25 in what should be his penultimate innings, but became the second batsman to get run-out in the innings, to a direct hit from Dimuth Karunaratne.
Batting in the fourth innings is never easy, especially with a shortened Australian batting line-up. Australia will look to build on to their lead of 48 and with Matthew Wade (48) and Peter Siddle (16) still at the crease, they will fancy a shot at propelling it to at least 100.
The inexperienced Sri Lankan bowling has struggled, with only Rangana Herath and Tillakaratne Dilshan causing any kind of trouble for the opposition. Suranga Lakmal was, at best, steady but Nuwan Pradeep and Dhammika Prasad leaked aplenty.
The Australian lower-order could look to take on Pradeep and Prasad given that their confidence would have been dented after what transpired on the second day. It will be interesting to see how Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene rotates his bowlers in his quest to blow over the tail.
We will bring you the live score throughout the game from the SCG and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Atawhai Drive
Guest
Only day I could go was Monday and it looks like my hopes have been dashed. Onwards, to India. Six weeks until Test cricket resumes.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
he he he
Hazey the Bear
Roar Rookie
Gesundheit..
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Quite right Al. I think they just backed themselves into a corner by claiming they were 'resting' Starc, then having Johnson be man of the match in Melbourne.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Didn't one of those guys direct Antichrist?
Matt
Guest
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nqwEwS8cwzQ
Hazey the Bear
Roar Rookie
I think the umpire might have gone upstairs just to add to the theatre - I don't think he was seriously considering any possible wicket.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Aww geez I could have strung together a heart stopping description of the race but, frankly, who here would know who Ole Einar Bjorndalen, or Emil Hegler Svendsden are?
Matt
Guest
Matt prior stumping Johnson comes to mind, ridiculous appeal
Geoff Lemon
Expert
STUMPS And that's the end of the day's play. Sri Lanka comprehensively won the middle session, but Australia won the first and last to be very much on top leading into Day 4. The Australian lead was pushed out to impressive proportions thanks to a superb innings from Matthew Wade, the wicketkeeper making a century with the tail from No. 6 to finish at 102 not out. He was supported ably by Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird, and Michael Clarke chose to declare at 9 wickets down in order to have a few overs at Sri Lanka before lunch. The lead was 138. No wickets fell before lunch, and Dilshan was the only one to fall after it, as Dimuth Karunaratne (henceforth to be known as Simba) and Mahela Jayawardene put on a century partnership, and batted until tea. At that stage they had Sri Lanka almost level with Australia. But after tea it all fell apart after Simba was dismissed caught behind for 85, and the following batsmen lost their heads. First-innings top-scorer Lahiru Thirimanne played an unnecessary pull shot, Thilan Samaraweera played an abysmal hoick third ball to hole out, and Angelo Mathews ran himself out. Mahela Jayawardene seemed heartbroken at his team's capitulation, and distracted by it - he was eventually out edging Siddle to slip for 60. Chandimal and Herath steadied the ship after Prasad was also dismissed, and managed to get through to stumps without further loss, Chandimal on 22. At seven wickets down, Mitch Johnson has two, while each of the other four frontline bowlers have one. With a lead of 87, Sri Lanka would need at least another 60 tomorrow to give themselves anything to aim at. Whether the tail can support Chandimal as Australia's tail supported their keeper remains to be seen, but on prior evidence we would class it as unlikely. More likely is that Australia will be chasing a sub-100 total tomorrow to win, and perhaps Mike Hussey will cop a promotion to opener, where he began his Test career, to give him one last chance at a Test innings in front of an adoring crowd. Join us then, to see how that all pans out, and pronounce last rites on this Test, this series, and Mike Hussey's career. I'll look forward to your company then.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
61.6 And that's it! 2 runs for Herath as he tickles that one to fine leg - might have come off the pad for leg byes. At least Chandimal and Rangana have made it through to stumps. 7/225, the lead is at 87.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Oh, look out. Wade didn't even have the ball when he took the bails off. Um... not out, Matthew?
Geoff Lemon
Expert
61.5 Haha... an appeal for a stumping down leg side. The crowd love it. I don't think he's out though.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
61.4 Dot ball! Herath gets back and defends.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
61.3 A dot, then a very wide ball deflected by Wade for a bye. Herath on strike. 7/223
Geoff Lemon
Expert
61.1 FOUR Not what they wanted! Chandimal laces that wide one to the fence. 7 for Richie Benaud.
Hazey the Bear
Roar Rookie
Chandimal is now to be labelled "The Grinch." Hitting a four off of Hussey! The audacity!
Geoff Lemon
Expert
I think that's a nice piece of captaincy by Clarke. It's not a bad tactical move, to try something different, and he's also entertaining the crowd and saluting his departing player.
Rhys
Guest
Huss for the hattrick.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Here's some theatre! Hussey to bowl the last over of the day, as the crowd has been demanding for half an hour.