Sri Lanka vs Australia, 3rd Test at Colombo, Sep 16 2011 - Match Result

That's the end of what's been a very good series, though the denouement was farcical today. Full marks to Australia for emerging trumps in these conditions. On behalf of the ESPNcricinfo gang, this is Nitin Sundar signing off. So long, and thanks for all the smart feedback. It was a pleasure!

The Warne-Murali Trophy is an unusual piece of silverware, or should I say woodware. It has two fists gripping balls, and since Murali was such a wristy practitioner, it is tough to say which hand is whose. Neither hand is particularly pudgy either!

Presentations time, then. Haroon Lorgat is one of the dignitaries. Wonder what he thinks of this pitch. Sangakkara gets a special memento for his 100th Test from Lorgat, and another one from the SSC. What a legend!

Clarke is up next to pick up the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy. "Very proud with the way we played this whose tour, the ODIs and the Tests. The new players have made most of their opportunities too, which is pleasing. We will take a lot of heart out of this series, but South Africa will be a completely different challenge."

Hussey is Man of the Match for the third time on the trot, and inevitably the Man of the Series too. What an accomplishment! "Its been a very tough series. South Africa is going to be another tough series and I look forward to it."

Dilshan: "I am happy with the way we played here, we came back strongly. We had a chance to win this one, but they played better cricket to save it and take the series. I am happy with the way Mathews and Thirimanne have come along. Also pleased with the way I found form here."

Mercy on us, the SL openers agree to call the game off at the first opportunity. Australia move to No. 4 in the ICC ratings and SL slip to 5th.

Jason: "Would have been nice to give Hussey the new ball. Never know, SL could have been 6 down already."

Valerio: "Either play to the finish or call the game off as soon as both sides agree they could not be bothered chasing a result. In this match that would have been around Lunch on Day 3. We all could have then moved on with our lives. Oh the frustration of these batting pitches." The game "went the distance" Valerio, so Chris Broad is going to wax eloquent about it in his report. Unlike the Galle wicket, which was a "disgrace".

Round the stumps now.

PutMarshy: "See the big picture guys. Why would Clarke have declared earlier and risked Johnson tweaking a hammy? Oh. Hang on. Pup - a word in your ear mate!"

Lyon gets the new ball. Last over of the series?

Here we go for the fourth innings. What a thriller. Copeland has the ball. Can he pick a fiver? Three slips.

Two more overs left in the game before they can pull the plug. The SL openers will have to pad up and turn up. The Aussie fielders will come and take their positions. A new ball will lose a bit of its newness. Get ready for 12 utterly pointless balls. Unless of course, they decide to not end the game at that stage, which would be worse.

"Right ! Game on. 331 off 20. T20 stuff." You're either sarcastic or optimising, Glenda. Either way, it is fans like you that make cricket a fun game!

"Some curious and perhaps telling celebrations from the Sri Lankans. First Mathews' ton, now Herath's 7th wicket. If I didn't know any better I'd swear they were about to go 3-0 up in the series. The question over whether the Sri Lankans care more about personal milestones than team success appears a valid one in my opinion." MisterMarto - Asian teams do believe in the primacy of milestones more than the others. That said, it was Herath's 100, which is special.