SL v AUS, 3rd Test Day 3 Review: Australia in control

While Day 2 of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and Australia saw Shaun Marsh steal the credentials with an important century, the third day’s play went on to simply reinforce Australia’s stronghold on the match. On a day when catches fell from the grasp of Angelo Mathews and his men, Rangana Herath put up yet another splendid performance by claiming a six-wicket haul. With two days left to play, it seems certain that an Australian win is certainly imminent.

The day began with Shaun Marsh and Steve Smith on similar scores with hopes of making it to a century. The session also saw Shaun marsh reach a wonderful century as he became the first Australian batsman to complete a century in the series. He was soon followed by skipper Steve Smith, the second Australian centurion in the series. Smith, for his part, showed all the other batsmen in the dressing room what exactly it felt like to stitch a century in trying conditions. He used his feet against the spinners and impressed with a rare century in the subcontinental conditions.

Marsh and Smith went on to stitch an important partnership that was worth 200 runs or more for the first time in the subcontinent since 2011. Moreover, the fact that they were playing spin against quality spin bowlers and thriving at the same time ensured that they had answered their critics by being able to play spin bowling.

Also Read – Stats: Steve Smith becomes 4th fastest Australian to 4000 Test runs

However, at the fall of their wickets, tragedies as they were, ensured that it was something that came in the way of their total. In spite of a Mitchell Marsh 53, the Aussies fell away to the spin of Rangana Herath who eventually went on to pick up phenomenal figures of 6/81, becoming the first Sri Lankan to complete 20 wickets in the series.

The Sri Lankans came out to bat late in the day with just a few overs to use in the day. However, they lost a wicket at the end of the day, something that will certainly not go down too well with the Lankans going about setting a target.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka, 1st innings: 353 all out

Australia, 1st innings: 379 all out (S Marsh 130; R Herath 6/81)

Sri Lanka, 2nd innings: 22/1 (M Starc 1/19)

Also Read –Sri Lanka v Australia 3rd Test, Day 1 – Statistical Highlights