The Hindu : Martyn grafts a century

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 19, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Martyn grafts a century

Damien Martyn, who scored a patient century. - AP

Australia: 120 & 320 for 5

Sri Lanka: 211

KANDY, MARCH 18. Damien Martyn grafted his second century of the series, one of the slowest by an Australian, reaching 104 not out before play on the third day was abandoned in the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka.

Australia was 320 for five in its second innings on Thursday when play was suspended due to fading light.

Heavy rain fell over Asgiriya Stadium soon after and covers were dragged over the wicket. Play didn't resume because the outfield was soaked.

The Australians added 99 runs for the loss of Adam Gilchrist (144), Darren Lehmann (21) and Ricky Ponting (27) in the 44 overs played after resuming on Thursday at 221 for two. Umpires waited almost an hour before deciding to abandon action for the day.

Play will resume 30 minutes early on Friday, at 10 a.m. local time. Ricky Ponting didn't show any effects of the back strain as he blazed a six and two boundaries off the 43 balls he faced before lunch. He was unlucky to go out just after the interval, caught behind off Vaas. TV replays showed he didn't get bat on the ball.

Bowlers dominated as 20 wickets tumbled in the first four sessions of the Test, with Australia dismissed for 120 and Sri Lanka replying with 211 all out.

Australia - 1st innings: 120.

Sri Lanka - 1st innings: 211.

Australia - 2nd innings: J. Langer c Sangakkara b Zoysa 9, M. Hayden c & b Vaas 5, A. Gilchrist lbw b Muralitharan 144, D. Martyn (batting) 104, D. Lehmann lbw b Vaas 21, R. Ponting c Sangakkara b Vaas 27, A. Symonds (batting) 6, Extras (lb-3, nb-1) 4, Total (for five wkts.) 320

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-26, 3-226, 4-255, 5-304.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 24-5-78-3, Muralitharan 38-7-126-1, Zoysa 23-9-58-1, Lokuarachchi 12-2-33-0, Jayasuriya 5-0-16-0, Dilshan 1-0-6-0.

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