Aussies take command against Lankan Board XI
Colombo, Sept 18: Opening batsman Michael Slater with 119 and rookie fast bowler Scott Muller with five for 64 took the honours for Australia on the second day of their threeday tour game against a Board XI at the CCC Ground on Saturday
19-Sep-1999
Colombo, Sept 18: Opening batsman Michael Slater with 119
and rookie fast bowler Scott Muller with five for 64 took
the honours for Australia on the second day of their threeday tour game against a Board XI at the CCC Ground on
Saturday.
Slater stroked a magnificent 119 off 136 balls hitting three
sixes and 14 fours and Muller, took five wickets for 64 runs
on his international debut to give Australia a firm grip on
the game.
Australia who took a first innings lead of 41 stretched it
to 264 by the close when they reached 223 for three wickets
going into the third and final day tomorrow.
Cutting and driving with conviction Slater shared a third
wicket stand of 110 with Mark Waugh before being stumped off
part time bowler Saman Jayantha shortly before the close.
Waugh whose last seven first-class innings in Sri Lanka has
produced six ducks, finally got off the mark with a single
and raised his bat in relief as he received applause from
the small crowd. He overcame some short pitched bowling by
Ravindra Pushpakumara and Indika Gallage to remain unbeaten
on 37 at the close. Waugh batted over two hours for his 37.
The Board XI resuming at 29-3 in reply to Australia's first
innings of 226, were dismissed for 185 with fast bowlers
Damien Fleming and Muller taking the major honours with nine
wickets between them.
Muller bowling at full steam troubled all the batsmen with
his pace and bounce, while Fleming also made use of the
helpful pitch to take 4-40. Only 19-year-old Chamara Silva
batted with some confidence stroking his way to 10 fours in
his innings of 66 scored off 86 balls.
Tailender Suresh Perera helped the home side recover from
125-8 to their final score of 185, with a rapid knock of 46
off 52 balls. He hit three sixes off leg-spinner Shane
Warne. His innings also included five fours.