Warne stars as Lee causes scare
Australia duly completed a comprehensive 245-run over the Sri Lanka Board President's XI, on the final day of their tour match in Colombo, but their preparations for the first Test at Galle next week received a setback when Brett Lee limped off to
Wisden Cricinfo staff
04-Mar-2004
Australians 484 for 6 and 250 for 4 (Symonds 119*) beat Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI 166 and 323 by 245 runs
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Lee, who had shredded the Sri Lankan first innings with four top-order wickets, had already struck to remove Avishka Gunawardene second-time around when he pulled up midway through his fourth over and asked to leave the field. Subsequent scans suggested that the problem was minor, but Ricky Ponting was nonetheless concerned. "It's unusual for him to come you with an injury," he said. "Things have to be really bad before that happens."
In Lee's absence, the focus of the innings turned to the spinners' duel between Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill. Warne, who bowled 23 overs in his first extended outing of the tour, picked up 2 for 79 to prove he was fit and ready after his lengthy lay-off, but MacGill by contrast bowled shakily, even though he picked up three late wickets to mop up the tail.
"I was happy with the way Shane bowled but Stuey could have bowled better," admitted Ponting. "He has bowled better and he'd be the first person to admit that, but over the next couple of days he'll iron out the little things in his action and hopefully he'll be bowling well come Monday."
After rampaging through the first two days of the match, Australia had declared on their overnight 250 for 4, leaving the Sri Lankans needing the small matter of 569 runs for victory. At 108 for 4 with Saman Jayantha out for 45, the prospect of a quick finish was on the cards, but Thilan Samaraweera and the wicketkeeper Lanka de Silva added 101 for the fifth wicket to salvage the innings. Samaraweera, who averages 67 in Tests, was eventually removed for an even 50 - an excellent warm-up for Galle - while de Silva fell within sight of his hundred - caught by Justin Langer off Darren Lehmann for 92.