Pathetic Sri Lanka melt in the Sydney sun
(01-03 14:15)
Sri Lanka found themselves in a familiar position with another woeful performance after the tea break today on the opening day of the final cricket test against Australia in Sydney.
Just minutes ago, they slumped to 261 for 7 wickets. Dhammika Prasad was last out in the 74th over for 2 runs as the slump continued. In the earlier over, Lahiru Thirimanne was out for 91.
Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene scored his first test 50 outside Sri Lanka in more than three years today. The skipper struck 72 as Sri Lanka reached 169 for four at tea after being sent in to bat by Australia, who lead 2-0 in the three-test series.
The last time Jayawardene had passed 50 outside Sri Lanka was way back in November 2009 in India, although he has continued to score heavily at home. He went 26 innings outside Sri Lanka without a half-century.
At the interval Thirimanne, who only arrived in Australia this week to cover for the injured Kumar Sangakkara, was on 37 not out after having a leg before wicket dismissal overturned on review on the first ball he faced.
Angelo Mathews was yet to score at the break. But he was back in the dressing room after falling for just 15 runs.
After a close shave Thirimanne knuckled down to play straight and add some solidity to the Sri Lanka batting, woefully missing in Melbourne last week where they lost by an innings and 201 runs after being routed for 103.
Australia removed both Sri Lankan openers in the morning session.
Skipper Michael Clarke looked for a quick return on a bold decision to bowl after going into a Test with four quicks for the first time since the third Test against India in Perth a year ago.
Jackson Bird snared the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne in the eighth over but Australia had to wait until 20 minutes before lunch for a second, with the dismissal of Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Karunaratne was out to a poor shot, attempting to pull Bird but only getting a top edge that was safely caught by Mike Hussey, playing in his 79th and last Test match. Dilshan was caught behind off Bird for 34.
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