Welgedara has the new ball and will bowl to Watson

0.1

Welegedara to Watson, no run, good carry from a length close to off, Watto gets forward and lets it go

0.2

Welegedara to Watson, 2 runs, comes back in from short of a length, he is caught unawares and manages an inside edge towards long leg

0.3

Welegedara to Watson, no run, driven hard off the front foot as it comes in full, diving stop at mid on

0.4

Welegedara to Watson, no run, solidly forward and on top of a length ball to defend

0.5

Welegedara to Watson, no run, gets forward to drive a length ball going across, straight to mid off

0.6

Welegedara to Watson, 1 run, direct hit and Hughes was gone, WAtson dropping it softly in front of cover and they decided to go for it, he put in the dive but would have still struggled

1.1

Lakmal to Watson, no run, coming in from short of a length, defended off the back foot

1.2

Lakmal to Watson, no run, goes after a widish one moving further away outside off, beaten

1.3

Lakmal to Watson, FOUR, that has been crashed in front of point, Watson plonks front foot out and cuts it hard

1.4

Lakmal to Watson, FOUR, another one, more width on this one and Watson cracks it off the back foot this time through cover

1.5

Lakmal to Watson, no run, pitched up, he still goes for it, but mistimes the drive in to the ground

Rick: "Stevo, one of the two was a number eleven, i know someone has to get it, but it hardly counts."

1.6

Lakmal to Watson, no run, does not get hold of a short of a length ball giving him some width outside off, slaps it straight to extra cover

Hughes on strike for the first time

smudgeon: "I'd like to see Phil Hughes a) score some solid runs, and b) have a bit better luck than in the last test." He's already survived that possible run out

2.1

Welegedara to Hughes, FOUR, and tell you what, he has creamed his first delivery, to the pitch of a fullish one, and gracefully sends it screaming past extra cover

2.2

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, shuffles across a long way, hops and opens the face to push towards point

2.3

Welegedara to Hughes, 1 run, opens up to work a straightish one towards midwicket

Richard: "@Rick - but he should have had Sangakkara's wicket, not his fault he didnt get it."

2.4

Welegedara to Watson, no run, angled across Watson, who takes a step out and lets it go calmly

2.5

Welegedara to Watson, FOUR, Watson pings Welegedara with a smoking straight drive, it still has enough on it to fairly race past mid on to the boundary

2.6

Welegedara to Watson, no run, well forward to block a length ball on the off side

Matt: "Watching Australia bat is just not the same when you know Ricky isn't going to come in at the fall of a wicket." We better start getting used to that day eventually

3.1

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, hops across and defends a short of a length ball towards mid on

3.2

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, this one goes across outside off, he pushes it back from the crease

Dave: "Sri Lanka should just pick 4 spinners and be done with it, the new ball is when Aus were more potent, look at the contrast."

3.3

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, across to a shortish one and pushes to midwicket

3.4

Lakmal to Hughes, 1 run, shuffles about busily and tucks one through square leg

Will: "This fast start is reminding me of the good old days of Hayden and Langer"

3.5

Lakmal to Watson, 1 no ball, too wide outside off, Watson bent the knee and went after it, loose, and he is beaten

frank is already heady, a touch prematurely: "Uh ho, mighty quick scoring (again). Another 3 day game ? Who else's wife is expecting ?"

3.5

Lakmal to Watson, no run, straightish one left alone outside off

3.6

Lakmal to Watson, no run, gong straight one close to off, he shoulders arms

4.1

Welegedara to Hughes, 2 runs, is a touch late in getting bat down on a fullish one outside off, squirts it in front of square leg

4.2

Welegedara to Hughes, FOUR, put away stylishly, easing out eagerly to the pitch of a fullish one moving away, and caresses it past extra cover

4.3

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, rising one kept down square on the leg side

Sutty: "People seem to be forgetting that Johnson is keeping a bloke like Doug Bollinger out of this test team... A man who performs so sporadically that he has turned into a joke overseas, is getting selected ahead of someone who has impressed in every test he has played (Well, except his most recent Adelaide test)."

4.4

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, pushed off the front foot to mid on

4.5

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, takes a step forward and across, then goes back to tightly defend this one outside off

4.6

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, gets across and pushes a length ball solidly past the non-striker

Paul: "@Will - Perhaps, but Hayden didn't look like he was going to run Langer out every time they went for a single. Watson is a menace when he's running between the wickets."

Sam: "Is anything other then a fast start expected? Watson has been doing this since he first started to open and Hughes is at his most comfortable whilst playing like this."

Prasanna, the legspinner, coming on on Test debut

5.1

Prasanna to Watson, FOUR, too short to start off, and Watson rocks back to hammer the pull in front of square leg

5.2

Prasanna to Watson, no run, better, around off and pushed off the front foot

5.3

Prasanna to Watson, 1 run, tossed up fullish, Watson plays for turn, there isn't much, inside edge towards midwicket

5.4

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, turns in this time, and hits him on the pad as he lunges forward

5.5

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, flighted slowly, dips on him as he pushes forward in defence

5.6

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, pushed with a bit of an open face on the off side, pretty tidy first over in Test cricket after that half-tracker

6.1

Welegedara to Watson, no run, drives off the front foot, straight to a diving gully

roger has been persisting with these for a while: "UWMBCA Welegedara: Unlikely We Might Bowl Contrary Australians."

6.2

Welegedara to Watson, FOUR, Watson pings another straight drive past the bowler, would have hit the fourth stump at the other end if there was one, mid on has no chance

6.3

Welegedara to Watson, no run, pushed towards point with an open face

Mahela is at short mid off next to Hughes

6.4

Welegedara to Watson, no run, smacks the drive straight to extra cover, missed out here

6.5

Welegedara to Watson, no run, length ball smothered off the front foot

6.6

Welegedara to Watson, no run, blocked solidly off the front foot

7.1

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, quicker one full outside off, he opens the face and runs it to point

7.2

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, tossed up and makes him drive, turns in and almost squeezes through, he edges it on to the pad

7.3

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, angles it past the left-hander who pads it away to slip

7.4

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, fuller one pushed on the off side off the front foot

7.5

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, he is getting some grip on this surface, turning in from a length, inside edge falls short of short leg

7.6

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, rocks back as he sees this one dropped too short,. but it carries on with the angle and beats him even as he tries to reach out

Russell: "@roger- UWMBCA Welegedara: Undoubtedly We May Be Crushed Again....."

8.1

Welegedara to Watson, no run, gets front foot out and defends from close to the body

8.2

Welegedara to Watson, no run, left alone as this one climbs with the angle outside off

8.3

Welegedara to Watson, 1 run, fine sliding stop at wide mid on, this was headed to the boundary as Watson clipped one off his pads, that is also 2000 Test runs for Watto

8.4

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, hops, gets across and blocks a length ball on the off side

8.5

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, pushes with an open face towards point

8.6

Welegedara to Hughes, FOUR, that's the third time Hughes has scattered the off side field with a graceful swing of the blade, fullish one, he gets forward and across and eases it through extra cover

9.1

Prasanna to Watson, no run, defended off the front foot to the bowler

9.2

Prasanna to Watson, FOUR, short, Watson eagerly goes back, bends the knee and pulls ferociously past midwicket

9.3

Prasanna to Watson, no run, struck on the pad with a quicker one as Watson presses forward with bat outside the line, umpire Kettleborough keeps nodding and says no eventually, Sri Lanka instantly go for the review, replays show it hit him just in line, and would have just clipped off as it turns away, umpire's call both times, Watson lives on

9.4

Prasanna to Watson, no run, defended off the front foot back to the bowler

9.5

Prasanna to Watson, 1 run, shortish, and skidding on to the pads, worked away in front of square leg

9.6

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, leans forward and pushes a fuller and flatter one on the off side

Dilshan brings himself on before Randiv

10.1

Dilshan to Watson, no run, turns in on middle and off, defended off the front foot

10.2

Dilshan to Watson, no run, played with the turn towards midwicket

10.3

Dilshan to Watson, 1 run, pushed down to mid on for a single

goes round the stumps

10.4

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, gets front pad out of the way, and blocks down the track

10.5

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, shortish, but he cannot put the cut past backward point

10.6

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, brings bat in front of pad to push down the track

Gags from Austria: "10th over and spin at both ends. SL might be out of ideas and in trouble...."

11.1

Prasanna to Watson, no run, tossed up and turning away from leg, blocked off the front foot

11.2

Prasanna to Watson, no run, got to be careful with this one, it skids straight in with the angle. and he gets an inside edge on the leg side

11.3

Prasanna to Watson, 1 run, flghted full outside off and pushed wide of extra cover for one

11.4

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, no silly point for Hughes and he is able to push there in the air

11.5

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, that has turned in a long way from outside off, Hughes thought it would be safe to pad it away, stifled appeal from the Lankans

11.6

Prasanna to Hughes, 1 run, low full toss but he cannot ease it wide enough of a tumbling mid off

12.1

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, fired in fullish from round the stumps, defended off the front foot

12.2

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, goes with the angle on leg stump, pushed down the track

12.3

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, blocked safely on the off side off the front foot

12.4

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, checks the push and the ball rolls back to Dilshan

12.5

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, tossed up full on off stump, Hughes digs it out on the leg side

12.6

Dilshan to Hughes, no run, turns this one to short leg

13.1

Prasanna to Watson, 1 run, turning away from a shortish length, cut away to sweeper cover

13.2

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, keeps bat and pad together as he pushes to cover

13.3

Prasanna to Hughes, 1 run, tossed up, Hughes works it with the spin through midwicket, there is a man in the deep there

13.4

Prasanna to Watson, no run, crack! Watto goes hard at the drive and the ball bursts out of short extra cover's hands

13.5

Prasanna to Watson, no run, marginally short and he goes back to slap it away, straight to short extra cover again

13.6

Prasanna to Watson, no run, keeping a touch low and hurrying on around off, he crouches low to keep it out

Boris: "I do get the feeling that Dilshan overuses himself. It just seems as if he doesn't trust his bowlers enough. I don't find him to be an incisive captain if he continually uses his bowling, however decent it may be, to buy a wicket after 12 overs in a test innings. Using his 2 spinners in tandem now would be a more aggressive move." Randiv is coming on now

14.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, gets some bounce and turn from around leg, he goes back to play it to short leg

14.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, turn from around off stump, he pushes it on the off side

14.3

Randiv to Hughes, no run, flight on off stump, Hughes smothers it in forward defence

14.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, turns away from around middle and off, he is playing from the crease and keeps it out

14.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, flighted fullish around off stump, pushed with an open face towards cover

14.6

Randiv to Hughes, 1 run, turns across him from around leg stump, a touch shortish and he is able to tuck it past short leg

15.1

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, pushed through quicker on middle, turned to short midwicket

15.2

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, patted back down the track off the front foot

15.3

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, tossed up ball he forces it back to Prasanna from the crease

15.4

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, played out with the turn from middle and leg to short midwicket

15.5

Prasanna to Hughes, FOUR, he has been dropping it short now and then, this time Hughes goes back and puts him through cover

15.6

Prasanna to Hughes, no run, going straight on around off, short of a length though, and comfortably played to short midwicket

Tim: "Seems when captains are allrounders they don't know how to use themselves. Cameron White always underused himself, as did Chigumbura of Zimbabwe. Gayle and Dilshan overuse themselves. This is the only reason Watson should not be captain."

16.1

Randiv to Watson, no run, turns in from outside off on a length, played with the spin to short leg off the back foot

16.2

Randiv to Watson, 2 runs, marginally short and Watson hammers the pull, fine diving stop from Lakmal at deep midwicket

16.3

Randiv to Watson, no run, nudged with the spin in front of short leg

16.4

Randiv to Watson, 1 run, tossed up and gets him to drive against the spin, wide of mid off for one

16.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, turns away sharply from off and bounces too, he keeps it down with a straight bat

16.6

Randiv to Hughes, no run, blocks a flighted one off the front foot

Scott: "@Tim: I think Watson being an opener, first change bowler, and in the slip cordon is enough of a reason not to add the captaincy!"

The umpires are having a look at the light

17.1

Prasanna to Watson, no run, flat and full one blocked off the front foot

17.2

Prasanna to Watson, no run, pushed on the bounce to the bowler

17.3

Prasanna to Watson, no run, turns away from middle, he defends to silly point

17.4

Prasanna to Watson, no run, goes on towards middle and leg, he gets back and keeps it out

Play about to begin under blue skies dotted with harmless-looking fluffy white clouds. Prasanna will complete his over

9.35 am Welcome to the second day's play of the second Test. Bright sunny day in Pallekele. Ranil Abeynaike doing the pitch report says that today should be a good day for batting as there are not too many rough areas on the surface. Not very encouraging signs for Sri Lanka after the ease with which Watson and Hughes played their attack yesterday. We are starting 15 minutes early today, at 9.45 am, to make up for the five overs lost yesterday to bad light

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Australia's day all the way. Losing the toss, dismissing Sri Lanka below 175 and knocking off 60 runs without losing a wicket. The pitch has played beautifully after the first hour, which is where Sri Lanka gave it away with all those wickets. Join us tomorrow morning for the second day's action. This is Abhishek Purohit signing off for the moment. Cheers

4.55 pm After hanging around for a while hoping that the light would improve, the umpires have given up and called stumps.

4.42 pm The umpires get together again and this time umpire Kettleborough motions the players to go off the field. It has gone too dark according to them.

Peter: "@everyone: so that is the real reason why Shane Warne never captained Australia. Not because of his off field behaviors."

AndyMack: "@tim - Kapil Dev and Imran Khan seemed to use themselves quite well when they were captains."

17.5

Prasanna to Watson, no run, flattish and full on leg to start off, played to midwicket solidly

17.6

Prasanna to Watson, no run, tossed up slowly on a length on middle, turning away slowly as well, he can go back to defend easily

Morgan: "Sri Lanka will want to breakthrough early in the first session or this could be a long day in the field for them!"

Randiv from the other end

18.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, bounce right away outside off, but comes slowly off the pitch, pushed down the track

18.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, flighted still fuller, defended off the front foot

18.3

Randiv to Hughes, no run, not as full this time, turning away from off, Hughes pushes forward and blocks

18.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, pushed through quicker and has him jabbing his bat down quickly outside off

18.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, well left, Randiv finding some turn outside off, but Hughes takes a step out and lets it go

18.6

Randiv to Hughes, no run, tightly defended, not lunging out at the ball, letting it come on as he presses forward and getting it towards short leg

Chris: "Morgan is incorrect. Whether they break through early or not, the day will be just as long. Time isn't modified by wickets, or else Marty McFly would've travelled through time with a cricket ball..."

Lakmal comes on from the other end, two slips in place

19.1

Lakmal to Watson, no run, well bowled, getting it to come back in from a length, zipping in late even as Watson had decided to let it go, not far from off stump

19.2

Lakmal to Watson, OUT, bowled 'em, just like Copeland went through Dilshan, Watson shouldering arms and flagging the ball through, it pitched much closer to off on a length and came in to uproot off stump, too close to be left really

SR Watson b Lakmal 36 (69m 57b 6x4 0x6) SR: 63.15

They needed an early breakthrough, they have got one, how much further can they go?

Shaun Marsh walks in on Test debut

19.3

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, fine leave from Marsh, he can let them go as Lakmal slants it across him fullish

19.4

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, 133.3 kph and sliding across the left-hander from a fullish length again, he shoulders arms right away

19.5

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, draws him forward on the third attempt, Marsh looks to play at it then decides letting it go is a better option, but by then the ball has come too close and takes the outer half of the blade even as he is withdrawing it, rolls towards point

19.6

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, not as full and he makes an early and firm decision to let it go

20.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, turning away from close to off, Hughes lets it go after taking a step out

20.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, makes him play with a flighted one on middle, he gets pad out of the way and defends

20.3

Randiv to Hughes, no run, defended back to the bowler

20.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, tight line, giving nothing away, fullish on off, turning away, Hughes blocks to short leg

20.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, defended off the inner half towards short leg, Hughes making an attempt to get forward and across

20.6

Randiv to Hughes, 1 run, just a touch short and turning away, Hughes goes back and eases it to sweeper cover

Charbel: "Great bowling, full of intent and purpose.. That's the way to go."

21.1

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, this full length slanted close to off is leaving him a touch uncertain about whether to play or leave, lets it go this time

21.2

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, touch wider outside off and he shoulders arms immediately

21.3

Lakmal to Hughes, 1 no ball, full length and makes him play, he defends tightly bat and pad together, Lakmal has overstepped

21.3

Lakmal to Hughes, 1 leg bye, finds some late movement in to the left-hander, that could have been very close only if the line had not been leg stump, trickled towards square leg off the pads

21.4

Lakmal to Marsh, 1 run, bounces a shade but the line is one leg and it is tucked off the pads through square leg

21.5

Lakmal to Hughes, 1 run, Hughes looks to go through cover with one of those graceful full followthrough, but away from the body this time, and the ball flies just past Thilan at gully, looks like he even got a hand to it

21.6

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, left alone outside off

22.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, well bowled, tossed up middle and turning away and bouncing, he gets in line and defends

22.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, getting forward to a flighted full delivery and smothering it on the off side

22.3

Randiv to Hughes, no run, when does he bowl the one that goes straight on from round the stumps, Hughes pushes forward to one that turns away outside off and blocks

Another man coming close-in at silly point, Hughes popped a few in that direction yesterday

Ben: "I know that wasn't the best leave, but I bet from Watson's point of view, that'll just make him leave less deliveries..."

22.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, tossed up and he stays on the crease immediately with that man standing close by and lets it go

22.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, now he tries to step out and whip against the turn from around off towards midwicket, gets it towards short leg and has to get back in time, that silly point is playing on his mind

22.6

Randiv to Hughes, no run, tightly defended back to the bowler

23.1

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, they are leaving dangerously, and living on the edge as a result, Lakmal bends this one across the left-hander, who lets it go, that almost shaved off stump

23.2

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, touch wider outside off and he lets it go past

tom: "is it just me does it look like Phil Hughes is sheperding the strike?"

23.3

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, played on the leg side off the front foot

23.4

Lakmal to Marsh, 1 run, gets it shape in nippily but ends up on the pads and is flicked behind square

23.5

Lakmal to Hughes, FOUR, that'll go, Hughes reaches out with the bat, and not with the feet, but swings whole-heartedly and the drive beats a diving extra cover

23.6

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, goes across and punches straight to shortish cover

24.1

Randiv to Marsh, no run, pushed through flattish around middle and leg, he gets pad out of the way and blocks

24.2

Randiv to Marsh, no run, well bowled, tossed up on off, he makes a late decision to let it go

Tomsy: ""Another man coming close-in at silly point, Hughes popped a few in that direction yesterday" Me thinks silly point is a silly point after he as already popped a few there, bu then again I could look very silly if Hughes is silly again?"

24.3

Randiv to Marsh, 1 run, pushed past silly point for a single

24.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, turning away around middle and off, defended solidly

24.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, pushed straight to silly point off the front foot

24.6

Randiv to Hughes, no run, fuller outside off, he gets bat and pad together and defends down the pitch

Dave: "Marsh can't afford to get bogged down like this batting at three." Give him some time

Paul: "Will be interested to see Hughes’ technique against the spinners today. Yesterday he was going back and knocking them down defensively, crouching & playing very front on, which is solid, but offers zero opportunity for a scoring shot. Last night that could be attributed to him wanting to survive, but he will need to look to score as well, not just endure."

Lakmal from round the stumps

25.1

Lakmal to Marsh, 1 no ball, bangs it in short of a length, widish outside off, he does not go after it and lets it go

25.1

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, coming in with the angle from round the wicket, Marsh shoulders arms, will have to be watchful to ones too close to be left

25.2

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, another well-judged leave outside off to a length slanted in from wide of the crease

25.3

Lakmal to Marsh, 1 run, and now he hurls it in very full targetting the stumps, thick outside edge rolls to gully

25.4

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, tightly pushed off the front foot towards cover

25.5

Lakmal to Hughes, (no ball) 3 runs, shot, reaches out to a length ball and pushes it through cover, Lakmal overstepe again

25.5

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, pushed with an open face towards point

luke: "Bogged down? He's only faced 14 balls in test cricket! That's 20/20 syndrome talking, this is test match cricket."

25.6

Lakmal to Marsh, no run, goes for the angled full ball again, he push-drives solidly to mid on

26.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, presses forward and smothers a tossed up ball to silly point

26.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, flighted slowly on middle, there is turn but there is not much bite at the moment, carefully blocked

26.3

Randiv to Hughes, 1 run, bowled fuller, he pushes forward and gets it towards mid on, they sense an opportunity and take the single

26.4

Randiv to Marsh, no run, more effort on this one, and he gets some grip and sharp turn, blocked off the front foot

26.5

Randiv to Marsh, no run, turning away from middle and leg, pushed with an open face to silly point

26.6

Randiv to Marsh, no run, tossed up slowly, gives him lots of time to hopefully get muddled in the mind, he makes a pretty late decision to leave as it spins away from off

Doug: "I'm not worried about getting bogged down, I'm loving the fact that they're showing they can tough it out without losing their heads. The shots and runs will flow eventually, just get through the tough period first!!"

27.1

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, short and going across him from over the stumps, Hughes stands in the crease and punches towards extra cover

27.2

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, gets across and outside off and drives off the back foot to shortish extra cover

azzos: "Let's have some positivity. We are watching the future of Australian cricket here. Forget Ponting. These two will carry us forward for the next half a dozen years at least hopefully. We are playing a TEST MATCH. These two can bat all day if they want to. The runs will come."

Lakmal bounds in and loses his run-up in the end

27.3

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, shuffling across, getting the front foot out and blocking a length ball down the track

27.4

Lakmal to Hughes, no run, bangs in the bouncer at 135.7 kph, Hughes shows a fine technique in ducking, bends the knee, drops the wrists and gets down with a flourish

27.5

Lakmal to Hughes, 1 run, too straight on middle and leg, he shuffles across eagerly and tucks him past the square leg umpire

27.6

Lakmal to Marsh, FOUR, too full on the pads and Marsh flicks it fine enough to beat the man at long leg

Luke: "Australia is already less than 100 runs behind on the first innings on the second morning of a five day match - March can and should take his time! "

28.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, lots of bounce from outside off, but he had already let it go

28.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, angles it in fullish on middle, turning away, blocked half-forward

28.3

Randiv to Hughes, 1 run, gets him driving with a loopy slowly bowled full ball some way outside off, he reaches out and finds sweeper cover

28.4

Randiv to Marsh, no run, flattish and touch quicker, around off, pushed off the back foot to silly point

28.5

Randiv to Marsh, no run, going straightish outside off stump, takes a step out and leaves

Justin: "I am glad to see some more people who can appreciate real test cricket still and not get carried away that marsh isn't hitting fours and sixes..."

28.6

Randiv to Marsh, 3 runs, that is too short, turning away, he seemed to spot it late but got back quickly to cut it past point, who gives chase and pulls it back in with a dive

Dan: "I think we Australians were spoiled when we had Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke and Gilchrist (not to mention Warne and Johnson) carving up test attacks at more than 4 runs an over. Let's just let these young inexperienced guys get their feet before we start calling for their heads."

Welegedara comes on now

29.1

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, short of a length and coming in from over the stumps, defended solidly

29.2

Welegedara to Marsh, 1 leg bye, uses the angle on one around middle and leg to shuffle across and tickle it behind square

29.3

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, crouches low as he gets forward and across to keep out a nippy length ball on the leg side

29.4

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, slanted down the leg side from a length

Farmer: "Now he's beaten his old mans debut score he can unleash."

29.5

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, pushed solidly off the back foot on the off side

29.6

Welegedara to Hughes, no run, moving across and gets bat behind the line of a short of a length ball to block

30.1

Randiv to Marsh, 1 run, thickish outside edge towards backward point as he pushes across with an open face

30.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, sharp turn from a length on off, he gets back to block

Jimmy: "This is the sort of grinding approach that Martyn and Lehman put to good effect last test tour of SL. And they were typically dashers. It seems to be working."

30.3

Randiv to Hughes, no run, tossed up around middle, he defends down the track

30.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, angles it in from wide of the crease, nudged past short leg, some confusion before they decide not to go for a risky run

30.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, the one that slides straight on, bowled with lots of overspin, defended solidly back down the track

30.6

Randiv to Hughes, no run, blocked off the front foot

31.1

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, gets across and pushes off the back foot towards cover

31.2

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, going straight on a foot outside off from a length, he shoulders arms right away

31.3

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, dug in short of a length around off, he keeps it down towards cover

31.4

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, well bowled, slightly fuller and closer to off stump, he persists with leaving, well-judged too

31.5

Welegedara to Marsh, FOUR, sees this one a touch shortish and sets himself up for the cut, it comes in a bit and he almost chops it on, gets the underedge fine past the keeper on the leg side

31.6

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, goes much fuller and closer to off stump, he leans forward to block

32.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, pushed to silly point off the front foot

32.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, angled in fullish around middle and leg, pushed towards short leg

32.3

Randiv to Hughes, no run, head on top of ball as he reaches out to block to silly point

32.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, gets front foot to the pitch of a flighted one and pushes past silly point

32.5

Randiv to Hughes, no run, turns away from a full length on off stump, blocked towards silly point

32.6

Randiv to Hughes, no run, crouches low to a fuller one angled in and plays it towards short leg

Mark: "Great to see the new 'kids on the block' trying to work through a difficult patch, and waiting for the bad balls. Something that has seemed to have been lacking for a while."

33.1

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, hurls it in short of a length, he gets across and eases it to point with an open face

33.2

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, angled in and ending on off stump, drawing him forward, he blocks off the inner part of the bat on to pad

33.3

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, short of a length and angled in, he tucks it straight to square leg

Men at short midwicket and short square leg

33.4

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, bowls it full on the stumps, he eases it down the track

33.5

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, straightish one outside off stump, he is happy to shoulder arms

33.6

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, played to cover carefully to end another tight over

34.1

Randiv to Hughes, 1 run, turning away from leg, he shuffles across and works it through square leg

goes over the stumps now, no silly point

34.2

Randiv to Marsh, no run, tossed up around middle and leg, blocked off the front foot

34.3

Randiv to Marsh, no run, pushes with the turn towards cover, wants the single, there is none to be had

34.4

Randiv to Marsh, no run, appeal for a tumbling catch at short leg, umpire says it was off the pad

34.5

Randiv to Marsh, no run, pushed back off the front foot

34.6

Randiv to Marsh, 1 run, turning in from outside leg, tucked past the man at short leg

Dilshan in to the attack now from round the stumps

35.1

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, finds some turn from outside off, left alone

35.2

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, bowled quicker on off stump, blocked down the track

35.3

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, bowls it on a length with the angle on middle, pushed off the back foot

35.4

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, pushed off the front foot on the leg side

35.5

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, appeal for caught behind from Dilshan and stumping from PJ, as Marsh is beaten on the forward push with a bit of turn, Marsh is alright on both counts

35.6

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, defended off the front foot on the off side

nani: "It's very happy to see almost after 2 years Australia is completely dominating a test series, a proud feeling as a australian fan."

36.1

Randiv to Hughes, no run, sharp bounce and turn from around off, was that a chance, outside edge that flies to Mahela's left and falls just short

36.2

Randiv to Hughes, no run, in the air but over the man at short leg, suddenly some close calls right after drinks

36.3

Randiv to Hughes, no run, pushed on the off side as he gets it to kick from a length

36.4

Randiv to Hughes, no run, tossed up outside off fullish, blocked back to the bowler

36.5

Randiv to Hughes, OUT, Randiv has deserved this wicket, sharp bat-pad chance, and a nice take by short leg lunging forward with both hands, he pressed forward to one that was angled in fullish on middle and leg, it gripped and bounced a touch to take the inside edge on to pad and popped in front of short leg

PJ Hughes c Paranavitana b Randiv 36 (139m 116b 5x4 0x6) SR: 31.03

Clarke against spin, this will be interesting, Randiv from round the wicket

36.6

Randiv to Clarke, 2 runs, pushes it through quicker outside off, Clarke prods at it and gets a thick edge past slip

Dan: "Here's a conversation starter. If a batsman was able to score between 40 and 49 in every innings without fail, but never reach 50 - he would be averaging 45 or so. Would we be happy?"

shouts of 'Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka' from the sparse crowd

37.1

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, blocked off the front foot

37.2

Dilshan to Marsh, no run

37.3

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, bowled flat around middle, bit of turn, defended off the back foot

37.4

Dilshan to Marsh, 1 run, pushed towards cover off the front foot for a single

37.5

Dilshan to Clarke, no run, tightly forward to block one on middle

37.6

Dilshan to Clarke, no run, pushed through on middle, he goes back and keeps it out

Tristo: "Put that wicket next to Nani's name."

38.1

Randiv to Marsh, 1 run, angled full around leg from round the stumps, turned towards midwicket

38.2

Randiv to Clarke, no run, plays from the crease and pushes a length ball that bounces, towards point

38.3

Randiv to Clarke, FOUR, Clarke slithers down the track, and picks a full delivery fine off his legs, all the way to the long leg boundary

jimpson: "Sounds a bit like Watson"

38.4

Randiv to Clarke, no run, pushed off the front foot towards cover

38.5

Randiv to Clarke, no run, gets right forward and across to defend one floated across him

38.6

Randiv to Clarke, no run, blocked off the front foot back down the track

John: "@Dan - Yes - provided he can swing a ball as well. We like Watto now!!!"

39.1

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, tossed up full on middle and leg, he gets bat in front of pad to drive to mid on

39.2

Dilshan to Marsh, 1 run, pushes forward and opens the face to run the ball past point, Randiv races after it and stops it with a big slide, recovers quickly to fire the throw in

39.3

Dilshan to Clarke, no run, gets across to defend a length ball on the leg side

39.4

Dilshan to Clarke, 1 run, down the track, mid on is a touch deep and the single is on

39.5

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, fired in fullish on off, defended off the front foot

39.6

Dilshan to Marsh, no run, flighted on off stump, Marsh is watchfully forward to block it

40.1

Randiv to Clarke, no run, Clarke advances down the track, and smothers one turning in from over the wicket

Man at leg slip now

40.2

Randiv to Clarke, no run, tightly defends a tossed up ball down the track

40.3

Randiv to Clarke, 1 run, flighted and angled in on leg, he skips out and eases it through midwicket

round the stumps to Marsh

40.4

Randiv to Marsh, 1 run, presses forward, gets an inside edge to one turning away from middle and leg, gets the single towards square leg

40.5

Randiv to Clarke, no run, gets across to the pitch of one floated across from round the stumps to push towards point

40.6

Randiv to Clarke, no run, leaves the crease again and smothers a flighted one on middle and leg

A huge dark cloud is looming over the ground. Welegedara is back

41.1

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, gets it to move away a tad from a length outside off, quietly left alone

Scott: "@Dan: Good for an opening bat. Takes the pressure off if you get a solid start. For the middle/lower order, no.. you need players who can dig in and make big scores when the chips are down."

Short square leg and short midwicket have appeared, it is the old firm of Mahela and Sanga

41.2

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, another leave outside off as this one bounces a touch

41.3

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, shaping in now but far enough outside off to be left alone

41.4

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, bowled fuller but still some way outside off, he can let them go

41.5

Welegedara to Marsh, 2 runs, overpitched and Marsh gets front foot out to drive through cover, pulled back inside the rope with a slide

41.6

Welegedara to Marsh, no run, that is well bowled, coming in a shade but the line close to off meant he had to play at it, hit on the thigh pad as he misses

42.1

Randiv to Clarke, 1 run, getting well across to one tossed up from round the wicket, and pushes for a single in front of cover

42.2

Randiv to Marsh, no run, well forward to block a tossed up ball on middle

42.3

Randiv to Marsh, no run, turning away from off stump, stays in the crease and lets it go

42.4

Randiv to Marsh, 1 run, looked to be the topspinner, but too full and eased off the front foot past cover

42.5

Randiv to Clarke, 3 runs, turning down the pads to the right hander and tucked behind square leg

42.6

Randiv to Marsh, no run, turn and bounce outside off, but he lets it go calmly

Getting darker and darker

43.1

Welegedara to Clarke, 1 run, well bowled, holding its line on middle stump as it angled across, he gets it off the inner half of the bat through square leg

43.2

Welegedara to Marsh, 1 leg bye, fired in full on the pads, trickles backward of square leg

43.3

Welegedara to Clarke, no run, gets the angle going close to off stump from a length, Clarke lets it go

43.4

Welegedara to Clarke, OUT, he's got Clarke, big wicket, reaching out to a wide one outside off stump and it goes straight to second slip, Mahela does not drop 'em, he takes it to his right with both hands, Clarke was lured by the fullish and wide one floated up for the drive, it moved away from him a bit in the air too, he fell for the trap, lunged after it, and was done in

MJ Clarke c DPMD Jayawardene b Welegedara 13 (24m 20b 1x4 0x6) SR: 65.00

Jeevan: "Good to see SL showing some fight! Its not over people till Day five when the fat lady sings"

11.27 am And right after Clarke departs, there is a bit of rain coming in now, the groundsmen run in with the covers

Michael: "@Dan: right now, Australia would take him anywhere in the order!"

It was only a passing shower and the players are back

Benny: "That's it Skipper throw your wicket away chasing a wide ball. Never seen Clarke get out any other way.."

43.5

Welegedara to Hussey, no run, gets forward to a pitched up delivery around off stump and pushes towards cover

43.6

Welegedara to Hussey, no run, lovely delivery, and good leave too, angled in on a length, and then holds its line a few inches outside off, Hussey remains in the crease and flags it through

Nuwan: "@Jeevan it is good to see, but i don't think our fight with the ball can be questioned this series or in the ODIs...it's the batting where we seem to not care."

Two slips now

44.1

Randiv to Marsh, no run, tossed up and turning outside off from a length, he lets it go

44.2

Randiv to Marsh, no run, goes back to one turning away from middle, and defends

44.3

Randiv to Marsh, no run, floated up for the drive with two slips waiting, Marsh does not fall for it and shoulders arms

44.4

Randiv to Marsh, no run, tucked to short leg from the crease

44.5

Randiv to Marsh, no run, gets bat in front of pad to push one past short leg

44.6

Randiv to Marsh, no run, solidly forward to defend a fullish one on the off side

Kalai: "Bring on Sanga for some revenge."

45.1

Welegedara to Hussey, no run, length ball outside off pushed with an open face to point

45.2

Welegedara to Hussey, FOUR, that is well played by Hussey, playing late and opening the face to run a length delivery softly in the gap between slip and gully

Another slip comes in now

45.3

Welegedara to Hussey, no run, and Hussey lets the next one let go outside off after taking a step out

Isaac: "While clarkey has demonstrated that he is innovative and possibly a future genius in terms of captaincy, i fear he doesn't have the aptitude to lead as a batsman - which is just as important. He generally crumbles at key times."

45.4

Welegedara to Hussey, no run, carefully pushes a nippy delivery towards point, Welegedara has bowled with good control today

45.5

Welegedara to Hussey, no run, he hasn't got a bowl today so far, but Prasanna saves some runs now with a diving stop at extra cover, that drive from Hussey was travelling

45.6

Welegedara to Hussey, 1 run, on the pads and tickled to long leg

Matt: "The earlier q about the value of a player who always scored 40-49 made me go and research it. The highest average (10+ innings) for a player with zero 50/100s is 38 for Antao D'Souza (Pak '59-'62). For 20+innings it is the paltry 18.38 of JC White (Eng '21-'31)."

46.1

Randiv to Hussey, 1 run, gets forward and tucks a full delivery in front of square leg

46.2

Randiv to Marsh, no run, tossed up full ball played carefully to point

46.3

Randiv to Marsh, no run, turning away from a length on off, he presses forward and gets it towards point with an open face

46.4

Randiv to Marsh, no run, flighted fullish on middle and off, he smothers it back to the bowler

over the stumps now

46.5

Randiv to Marsh, no run, sharp turn from outside off, he lets it go

46.6

Randiv to Marsh, no run, turning in from outside leg, patted towards short leg

Legspinner coming on

Gibbo: "@Benny... The rest of us have seen Clarke get out other ways. You need to watch more closely..."

Phil: "@Isaac - give him more than a game and a bit to prove batting abilty whilst captaining the side."

47.1

Prasanna to Hussey, no run, short, flat and around off, pushed to short extra cover

47.2

Prasanna to Hussey, no run, lunges forward to a tossed up ball that spins in from outside off and hits him on the pad

47.3

Prasanna to Hussey, no run, not turning much, he plays late forward, opens the face to push on the off side

47.4

Prasanna to Hussey, 1 run, squeezed towards backward point

47.5

Prasanna to Marsh, 1 run, pushed towards cover for a single

47.6

Prasanna to Hussey, 1 run, shortish and whipped off the back foot past short midwicket

Tom: "Marsh is similar to Praveen Kumar in the way that they are both suited to the longer form of the game, but have had to work they way up through the shorter forms of the games. Expect Marsh to really grab his oppurtunity and perform well."

48.1

Randiv to Hussey, no run, flighted full on off stump, he has been there all morning, squeezed to point off the front foot

48.2

Randiv to Hussey, no run, takes a step out and smothers a flighted ball down the track

48.3

Randiv to Hussey, no run, looks to advance down the track again but stays back to push on the off side

48.4

Randiv to Hussey, no run, that was close, he survives though, down the track again, plays outside the line and the ball takes the inside edge to go back towards the stumps, he gets back in time before PJ can get to it

48.5

Randiv to Hussey, no run, pushed on the off side off the front foot

48.6

Randiv to Hussey, 1 run, angled in shortish, he shuffles across, goes back and tucks it towards midwicket

selectorsmate: "i am astounded that the ashes loss was attributed to poor selection, then the selectors bring through some young hopefuls and they have some success, and it is the players that get the credit... tough gig selecting in australia. its hard to select a winning team if you dont have the cattle."

49.1

Prasanna to Hussey, no run, he is leaving the crease almost every delivery, jams it back to the bowler and rushes back

49.2

Prasanna to Hussey, no run, played on the leg side from the crease

49.3

Prasanna to Hussey, 1 run, pushed with the turn to mid on from a very full length

49.4

Prasanna to Marsh, 1 run, inside edge as he presses forward, but it goes past short leg

49.5

Prasanna to Hussey, no run, rips it on middle on a length, he comes forward to block

49.6

Prasanna to Hussey, 1 run, gives it lots of air, full on middle, turned down towards mid on