CAIRNS, Australia, 13 July 2004 — Shane Warne moved within four wickets of the world record as Australia bowled out Sri Lanka for 455 on the fourth day of the second Test yesterday, giving the hosts a first innings advantage of 62.
Australia reached 194 for two from 49 overs before the close of play for an overall lead of 256 runs with eight second innings wickets in hand. Resuming on their overnight score of 411 for five, Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for 10 runs with leg spinner Warne finishing with three for 129 from 38 overs.
The 34-year-old Warne now has 523 Test wickets, four behind Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan who opted out of the tour for personal reasons.
Australia paceman Jason Gillespie also took three wickets as the hosts gave themselves a chance of clinching a 2-0 series victory.
First innings century-maker Matthew Hayden was unbeaten on 68 in Australia’s second innings with Damien Martyn blasting a quickfire 52 not out from 54 balls.
“Obviously we will bat tomorrow for a period of time and then we will definitely be looking to have a crack at them,” Gillespie told a news conference.
“There is not a lot of rough there but Shane is a quality bowler and he will be able to extract something out of that (pitch),” the 29-year-old Gillespie added.
Sri Lanka coach John Dyson said the momentum was with Australia going into the final day’s play.
“They can dictate what happens. We’ve got to try like crazy to limit their scoring, which we did pretty well after tea for a while until Damien Martyn came out and played a superb innings,” Dyson told a news conference.
Dyson appeared to be growing tired of questions about Warne’s world record bid.
“I’m not obsessed by this record. You guys are, but I’m not and I don’t think Shane is either,” Dyson said.
“Because he knows that Murali will at some stage start playing again and go past him again and Shane might go past him again ... it’s just one of those sideline things.”
Justin Langer was the first man out in Australia’s second innings, caught behind off Nuwan Zoysa for eight in the second over.
Hayden then put on 95 for the first wicket with captain Ricky Ponting who was caught at gully by Sanath Jayasuriya off the bowling of left-armer Zoysa for 45 at 105 for two.
Martyn put on 89 for the third wicket with Hayden in just 74 minutes.
Wet weather had wiped out the morning session and both teams took an early lunch before play started at 12.10 local time (0210 GMT) with Australia keen to make up for lost time.
Glenn McGrath struck in the third over, when Romesh Kaluwitharana was caught at slip for 34 at 420 for six. Gillespie then removed Thilan Samaraweera for 70 and Chaminda Vaas for two, both caught by Ponting at second slip.
Warne had fellow leg spinner Upul Chandana stumped on 19 and last man Lasith Malinga was run out without scoring. Captain Marvan Atapattu top scored for the tourists with 133. Kumar Sangakkara (74) and Mahela Jayawardene (43) shared century partnerships with Atapattu for the second and third wickets. Langer top-scored with 162 in Australia’s first innings total of 517, putting on 255 for the first wicket with Hayden (117). Martyn fell three runs short of his eighth Test century. Chandana took 5 for 109 for Sri Lanka.
Revitalized Pakistan Capable of
Defending Asia Cup: Inzamam
In Karachi, Pakistan cricket team captain Inzamam ul-Haq was upbeat yesterday about his revitalized team’s chances of winning the upcoming Asia Cup starting this week in Sri Lanka.
“My team is now revitalized and after some organized coaching I am confident that we will successfully defend our title,” Inzamam told AFP.
Pakistan’s legendary batsman Javed Miandad was fired as coach last month and replaced by former England batsman Bob Woolmer after Pakistan lost one-day and Test series to India in March-April this year.
“It’s not that we were not receiving good coaching previously but Woolmer has organized this team and has told us that we need to raise commitment and performance levels,” said the Pakistan captain.
“He (Woolmer) has told us that Australia should be the benchmark for us as in the coming season we are touring Australia,” said Inzamam.
A 14-man Pakistan squad is due to leave for Sri Lanka today to defend its Asia Cup title won in Bangladesh four years ago.
Hosts Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates are competing in the event which runs from July 16 to Aug. 1.
Pakistan captain said rivals India and Sri Lanka are the teams to beat in the Asia Cup.
“India’s recent performances are very good and they are on the rise, so are the Sri Lankans and we need to raise our level to beat them to defend our title,” said Inzamam, whose side is in Group A with Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
