CAIRNS, Australia, 12 July 2004 — Captain Marvan Atapattu hit a century to lead Sri Lanka to 411 for five on the weather-disrupted third day of the second Test against Australia yesterday.
Atapattu top-scored with 133, including 19 fours, as his side trailed by 106 runs on first innings with two days remaining.
When play was called off for the day at 1720 local (0720 GMT) because of rain and bad light, Thilan Samaraweera was unbeaten on 53 with wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana not out 30. Atapattu reached his 15th Test century in the morning session but failed to add to his score after lunch.
The 33-year-old right-hander was dismissed in the first over of the afternoon session for 133, caught at gully by Matthew Hayden off the pace bowling of Glenn McGrath.
Atapattu, who hit 19 fours and batted for five-and-a-half hours, had put on 124 for the third wicket with Mahela Jayawardene.
Jayawardene fell in the next over for 43, miscuing an attempted hook shot off Michael Kasprowicz to be caught by the bowler with the score on 280.
Australia had claimed two wickets for no runs but Samaraweera and Tillakaratne Dilshan guided Sri Lanka safely past the follow-on mark of 318 in a fifth-wicket stand of 65.
Australia leg spinner Shane Warne picked up his second wicket of the innings, finishing with figures of 2-117, and needs another five to equal Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan’s world record of 527.
Australia coach John Buchanan said Warne’s record bid had not been a big talking point among the players.
“I’m sure Shane thinks about it every so often, particularly as he takes a wicket and edges closer,” Buchanan told reporters.
“Great credit to the Sri Lankan batsmen. Their batting has been of great patience, trying to bat as long as they possibly can.”
Atapattu appeared set for his seventh double century in 75 Tests and described his departure immediately after lunch as a shock.
Sri Lanka had resumed on their overnight score of 184 for two, with Atapattu on 75 and Jayawardene on nine.
Dilshan fell to Warne for 35 shortly after tea, leaving Sri Lanka on 345 for five. Samaraweera, however, resisted the Australia attack for three hours before the premature close, hitting five fours. Kumar Sangakkara (74) and Atapattu shared a second-wicket stand of 138 on Saturday.
Justin Langer top-scored for Australia with 162, putting on 255 for the first wicket with Matthew Hayden (117), while Damien Martyn made 97. Leg spinner Upul Chandana took 5-109 for Sri Lanka.
Australia lead the two-match series 1-0.
“Both sides have got a lot of work to do on a very good batting wicket,” Buchanan said of the remaining two days in the match.
