7.57pm A solid batting performance from Australia, given they've batted twice under lights. Labuschagne, Head shined through and through, while Patterson showed critics that he belongs in Test Cricket. And what about Suranga Lakmal? The old man is showing us he's still got the goods... finishing with 5 for 75, and ensuring that Sri Lanka have a slender hope of drawing/winning the Test. How will Sri Lanka bat with about 20 minutes of cricket left? Let's find out together when we return with the third innings.
Tris: "Phew! Good that Australia had that decision made for them. Looks like they have forgotten how to handle being in a dominant position. "
Hitesh kohli: "Come on Lanka , show some grit. Score 350 and lakmal will win it for you."
JA Richardson c Karunaratne b Perera 1 (13m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 14.28
END OF OVER:106 | 11 Runs | AUS: 323/9
- Mitchell Starc26 (25b)
- Jhye Richardson1 (5b)
- Suranga Lakmal27-9-75-5
- Dilruwan Perera32-9-84-1
Prashant Bh: "Nothing hurts opposition more than a tailender hitting runs freely in a low scoring match"
Justin: "Don't really understand Paine's thinking here. Surely 7 or 8 overs in great bowling conditions is worth more than a couple of tail end runs. To be brutally honest I think Australia have enough already"
END OF OVER:105 | 8 Runs | AUS: 312/9
- Mitchell Starc16 (22b)
- Jhye Richardson0 (2b)
- Dilruwan Perera32-9-84-1
- Suranga Lakmal26-9-64-5
END OF OVER:104 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 304/9
- Jhye Richardson0 (2b)
- Mitchell Starc8 (16b)
- Suranga Lakmal26-9-64-5
- Dilruwan Perera31-9-76-1
Shanaka: "5 for Lakmal.. well deserved"
GKM: "Started this buffet of cricket at 7.30 last evening ( wi vs england), watched till 3 in the morning, woke up at 6 in the morning for republic day preparations ( India), Following this match on cric info and waiting for pakistan vs south africa and wi vs england to resume and have to wake up at 5 in the morning tomorrow again, the body must be crying from inside"
KR Patterson lbw b Lakmal 30 (110m 82b 3x4 0x6) SR: 36.58
AmilaA: "Any signs of Aus declaring before close" -- don't see it happening at all. With the ball still new, I think they'd prefer to hit out if it comes to deciding whether they want to declare