Sri Lanka bowled out for 353; Aus need 268 to win

Sri Lanka were aided by the tail as they were bowled out for 353, setting Australia a target of 268 to win the Pallekele Test.

Kusal Mendis was the star but Rangana Herath’s valuable contribution at the end has propelled Sri Lanka to 353 all-out, setting Australia a challenging target of 268. 

Mitchell Starc finally got Kusal Mendis to edge a delivery to Peter Nevill behind the stumps in the third over of Friday’s (July 29) fourth day to end the batsman’s gritty knock of 179. But Sri Lanka moved gently into the ascendancy in the first Test against Australia in Pallekele, eventually being bowled out for 353 to set Australia a target of 268 with plenty of time remaining, weather permitting.

Mendis was resolute in the lone battle he waged against an incisive Australian bowling attack on the third day of the contest, lifting Sri Lanka out of trouble and stretching their lead to 196 before bad light stopped play an hour before the scheduled end of the day’s action with Sri Lanka on 282 for 6.

Resuming on 169 after rain delayed proceedings in the morning by an hour, Mendis edged Starc – who took the second new ball straightaway — for a boundary to take the lead past 200. But nine balls later, as soon as he departed, Steven Smith set attacking fields to try and wrap the tail up quickly.

Rangana Herath, batting at No. 9, had a leg before decision overturned on review and went on smash 35 valuable runs to lend further meat to Sri Lanka’s total, hitting six fours in the process.

Seven overs were bowled in the session before rain interrupted play once again. When the players returned to the middle after the break, Hazlewood quickly sent Dilruwan Perera back for 12 and Lakshan Sandakan (9), the debutant, also fell soon after.

The last-wicket pair of Herath and Nuwan Pradeep put on 30 runs off 35 balls, both batsmen living dangerously throughout but getting some important boundaries off the edge of their bats and on a couple of occasion, even off the middle. Herath was finally dismissed caught brilliantly by Mosies Henriques, the substitute fielder, off Hazlewood’s bowling.

Rain and bad light could still have a bearing on the result with overcast conditions prevailing in Kandy, and the weather forecast suggesting a high possibility of scattered rainfall in the next 48 hours.

Starc led the Australian bowling with 4 wickets but was expensive, going for 84 from 19 overs, while there were two wickets apiece for Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. Australia were handicapped by the absence of Steve O’Keefe, ruled out for the rest of the series with a hamstring injury sustained the previous day.

-Agencies