Batting disappointed on the 1st day of the 2nd test Sri Lanka vs Australia in Melbourne and on the second day, the Sri Lankan bowlers were unable to dismantle the opposition despite valiant efforts.
Australia ended the day on 440 for 8 with a pitch that started to show some disconcerting bounce and spin.
From an overnight 150 for 3, Watson and Clarke started with caution and Sri Lanka held somewhat of a grip on the batting. However when spearhead Chanaka Welagadara had to trundle off with a hamstring injury which added to Sri Lanka’s woes after Prassana Jayawardena sustained a hairline fracture on the hand the previous day, things began to look woeful for Sri Lanka. Australia capitalized on the doom and even though Shaminda Eranga took up the mantle with some spicy deliveries , the Watson/Clarke combo survived. Luck seemed to continue to elude the battered Sri Lankan team, but it was also apparent that the Sri Lankan bowling clearly lacked penetration and the ability to regularly bamboozle and cause pressure.
The duo piled on a mammoth 195 run partnership which broke back of the Sri Lankan bowling. The need for speed so apparent and while the administration plays politics and play-outs, the beloved game is disintegrating.
No doubt Sri Lanka will rue the two dropped catches on day one earlier on in the innings of both batsmen, which would have caused pressure on the Australian batting line up. Clarke notched up a century but many near misses and good shots later, he was removed by Jayawardena hanging on to one at slips from Eranga. Clarke finished on 106 with 14 fours. Dhammika Prasad came into his own for a tad quickly removing Watson (83) caught by Samaraweera and Wade caught by Eranga that resurged Sri Lanka to end matters.
Michael Hussey continued to make a nuisance of himself to Sri Lanka but this time was removed quicker than usual at 34 by an innocuous T M Dilshan delivery which was acrobatically caught by Rangana Herath with one hand. Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson who was inserting himself at the other end all that time began to bat like top order. Peter Siddle hung around for him to make merry, before succumbing to flying Jayawardena catch at 2nd slip which was taken in front the 1st slip off the bowling of Eranga.
Johnson remained unbeaten on 73 with 6 fours at the end of the day with Lyon hanging on at the other end to perhaps torment Sri Lanka further or day 3.
Prasad and Eranga bowled with venom and indiscipline 3 for 102 and 2 for 106 respectively. Hearth bowled 39 overs for 95 runs but the Australian batmen made certain they did now allow him wickets.
