Cricket: Marsh rescues Australia in final Test

Left-hander defies Sri Lanka attack again as hosts look to level series.

COLOMBO: Shaun Marsh hit a gutsy 81 to steer Australia out of trouble at the start of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan’s decision to send Australia in to bat on a moisture-laden wicket paid off as the tourists slumped to 22 for two in the ninth over. Marsh, who made 141 on debut in the previous Test in Pallekele, led the revival to help Australia reach 235 for five by stumps on the opening day at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

The left-hander put on 79 for the third wicket with Ricky Ponting (48) and 70 for the fifth with Mike Hussey (63 not out) to upstage a superb debut by Sri Lanka fast-bowler Shaminda Eranga.

Eranga grabbed a wicket with his first delivery in Test cricket - just as Australian spinner Nathan Lyon had done in the opening Test of the series - and ended the day with two for 52. The 28-year-old Marsh missed his second consecutive century when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath in the final session.

Eranga, 25, one of the three changes in the Sri Lankan side, struck as soon as he replaced Chanaka Welegedara for the eighth over of the innings. Shane Watson, who made eight, chased a ball outside the off-stump and drove straight into the safe hands of Dilshan.

His unexpected dismissal came after his opening partner, Phil Hughes, had fallen for a second-ball nought, bowled by Suranga Lakmal. Ponting, returning to the side after missing the second Test, fell in the afternoon session to Lakmal.

The 36-year-old, the third highest run-getter in Tests behind the Indian duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, has now gone 22 innings without a Test century.

Sri Lanka, looking for a series-levelling win in Kumar Sangakkara’s 100th Test appearance, axed senior batsman Thilan Samaraweera and spinners Suraj Randiv and Seekkuge Prasanna.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th,  2011.