The Hindu : Unbeaten century by Atapattu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 26, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Unbeaten century by Atapattu

Australia: 401
Sri Lanka: 239 for 2

COLOMBO, MARCH 25. Veteran opener Marvan Atapattu posted his 12th Test hundred and first against Australia as Sri Lanka dominated the second day of the third Test.

Atapattu, the limited-overs skipper and probable successor to Hashan Tillekaratne as Test captain, shared a Sri Lankan record 134-run opening stand with Sanath Jayasuriya (71), surpassing the 110 between Roshan Mahanama and Chandika Hathurusingha at Colombo in 1992.

He reached triple figures with a cover driven boundary off Brad Williams and remained unbeaten on 109 at stumps with Sri Lanka at 239 for two, 162 runs behind Australia's first innings of 401.

Mahela Jeyawardene was not out on 29 after an unbroken 64-run third-wicket stand.

"It's disappointing that the big knock is coming after the series is lost," said Atapattu. "I would have loved to have had this in the first Test and go on. But, it's still so special getting a century against the best side in the world. I'm thrilled to get one on my home ground."

Darren Lehmann was the big contributor for the tourist, scoring 153 before he was the last wicket to fall in Australia's biggest first-innings total of the series and then taking both the Sri Lankan wickets. He had Jayasuriya caught at long-on by Jason Gillespie with his second ball of the match. A part-time left-arm orthodox spinner, Lehmann got a fortuitous caught behind decision against Kumar Sangakkara (22) as Sri Lanka lost its second wicket with the total at 175.

Shane Warne, who needs nine wickets in this match to beat Courtney Walsh's Test bowling record of 519 wickets, bowled 18 overs from the other end and conceded 58 runs without adding to his 20 wickets in this series.

Muralitharan started Sri Lanka's fightback in the morning session, recording his 43rd five-wicket haul in a Test innings when he picked up three of the last four Australian wickets.

The champion off-spinner returned with five for 123 to boost his series haul to 25 wickets and his career total to 510, one behind Warne. He captured Warne's wicket for the third time in the series to trigger a lower-order collapse, with Australia losing its last four batsmen for 25 runs.

After resuming at 314 for six and chasing an unprecedented 3-0 Test series sweep in Sri Lanka, the Australians progressed to 376 before Muralitharan had Warne (32) adjudged lbw.

Muralitharan had Gillespie (0) caught at silly point by Hashan Tillekaratne to make the total 280 for eight and, after Jayasuriya bowled Michael Kasprowicz (4), he had Lehmann caught in the outfield in the over before lunch.

Lehmann's innings spanned six hours across three sessions and included key partnerships of 121 for the fourth wicket with Ricky Ponting (92) and 77 with Warne for the seventh wicket.

The 34-year-old left-hander added 49 to his overnight score after posting his fifth Test hundred and second of the series late on Wednesday. His innings contained 14 boundaries and two sixes and he crossed 150 for the third time in 18 Tests.

With the wicket turning sharply, Australia appeared a good chance of ripping through the fragile Sri Lankan top order.

But Atapattu, who averaged only 16.5 in six Tests against Australia, belted 17 boundaries and defied the Australian attack to move past 4,000 career runs in Tests.

Jayasuriya, who last week posted his first Test century in two years, blazed nine boundaries and one big six over long-on before he was out.

The Sri Lankan openers started aggressively, with Atapattu driving the first ball of the innings for a boundary off Gillespie and the host racing to 50 in 31 minutes.

The Sinhalese Sports Club ground is the venue of Sri Lanka's most Test successes. — AP

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