Lanka falter after Mahela finds runs
4 Jan 2013 1:16 AM GMT
Stand-in Lahiru Thirimanne and skipper Mahela Jayawardene missed centuries as injury-hit Sri Lanka slumped to 294 all out after a strong start to the third Sydney Test against Australia on Thursday.
Thirimanne, who only arrived in Australia this week to cover for the injured Kumar Sangakkara, threw away a chance of a first Test hundred.
Jayawardene scored his first away Test 50 in more than three years but was caught at slip on 72.
The tourists, demoralised after last week's innings and 201-run defeat in Melbourne to lose the series, showed greater resolve in the dead-rubber final Test as they chased their first ever Test win Down Under at the 13th attempt.
The last time Jayawardene had passed 50 in an away Test 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. It was a more confident Jayawardene than seen in Hobart and Melbourne as he faced 110 balls before he was snapped up by Michael Clarke at slip off Mitchell Starc.
Thirimanne, who only arrived in Australia this week to cover for the injured Kumar Sangakkara, threw away a chance of a first Test hundred.
Jayawardene scored his first away Test 50 in more than three years but was caught at slip on 72.
The tourists, demoralised after last week's innings and 201-run defeat in Melbourne to lose the series, showed greater resolve in the dead-rubber final Test as they chased their first ever Test win Down Under at the 13th attempt.
The last time Jayawardene had passed 50 in an away Test 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. It was a more confident Jayawardene than seen in Hobart and Melbourne as he faced 110 balls before he was snapped up by Michael Clarke at slip off Mitchell Starc.
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