Sri Lanka seamers keep lid on Australia

Sri Lankan seamers continued to make inroads into the Australian batting when they grabbed two further wickets in the middle session on the first day of the third and final test on Friday.

Australia, invited to bat first, went to tea at 154 for four with Shaun Marsh battling his way to an unbeaten 68 off 172 balls and Michael Hussey on 18 not out.

The afternoon session was delayed by 40 minutes due to rain but it made no difference to the home bowlers, who managed to snare the key wickets of former captain Ricky Ponting for a well compiled 48 and current skipper Michael Clarke for six.

Both batsmen fell to poor shots chasing balls wide outside the off stump and edging catches behind the wicket to Prasanna Jayawardene.

Suranga Lakmal picked up Ponting’s wicket at 101-3, ending a third wicket stand of 79 with Marsh, while debutant Shaminda Eranga took his second wicket of the innings when he dismissed Clarke.

Marsh, who made a century on debut in the drawn second test, anchored the innings and looked solid in defence and hit only the loose balls as he notched six fours.

Australia lost an early wicket when Phil Hughes played onto a delivery from Lakmal and was dismissed without scoring in the second over.

Shane Watson became debutant Eranga’s maiden test victim when he chased a wide ball and hit it to backward point where Tillakaratne Dilshan held the catch. Watson scored eight as Australia lost their second wicket for just 22.

Australia lead the three-test series 1-0.