Mendis, spinners hand Sri Lanka advantage

Australia end day four on 83-3, needing 185 more runs to win

PALLEKELE: Australia lost three wickets to Sri Lanka’s spinners, with skipper Steve Smith steadying the ship a bit as the visitors struggle to chase down a formidable target of 268 in a nail-biting first Test.

Australia were precariously placed at 83-3, with Smith unbeaten on 26, when bad light forced the umpires to call tea early on the fourth day in Pallekele in a match that has already been badly hit by rain.

No more play was possible after that, with Australia still needing another 185 runs for victory to take a lead in the three-match series; with all three results still very much possible.

Rangana Herath struck early with his left-arm spin when the veteran bowled David Warner for one. Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera soon had Usman Khawaja trapped lbw to make it 33-2.



Debutant spinner Lakshan Sandakan, who bagged four wickets in the first innings, cleaned up opener Joe Burns, who had looked well set on 29 until he chopped a turning ball onto his stumps.

Smith was unbeaten at the crease at stumps during a battling 54-ball innings, which has so far not seen him score any boundaries. His partner Adam Voges was similarly steadfast as the Australians looked to consolidate their status as the number one Test team.

Earlier it was Kusal Mendis’ superb maiden century of 176 that helped Sri Lanka seize control of proceedings after lagging behind for three days in a match shortened by several rain interruptions.

Sri Lanka, starting yesterday on 282-6, managed 353 in their second innings to turn things in their favour against firm favourites Australia.



Injured O’Keefe to return home

Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe was set to return home after injuring his hamstring during the ongoing Test, according to a statement yesterday.

O’Keefe, who impressed selectors with a 10-wicket haul in Australia’s only practice game in Sri Lanka, had to leave the field in the middle of his 17th over of the second innings on day three Thursday.

“Initial assessment indicates a moderate grade hamstring injury which means it is highly unlikely that he will be available for the remainder of the Test series,” Australian physiotherapist David Beakley said in the Cricket Australia statement.



Left-arm spinner Jon Holland has been called up to the Australian squad to replace O’Keefe. “It is incredibly disappointing for Steve to get this injury and I really feel for him. He was bowling well in the Test and had caused some trouble to Sri Lanka’s top-order,” said Australian selector Rod Marsh.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30^th, 2016.

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