Sri Lanka Fight Back After Australia Declare

Sri Lanka Fight Back After Australia Declare

Kumar Sangakkara stroked an unbeaten half-century as Sri Lanka fought back in Pallekele

©REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte (SRI LANKA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Sri Lanka 174 & 223-2 (Sangakkara 69no) v
Australia 411-7 dec. (Hussey 142, Marsh 141)
Second Test, Pallekele, day four
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two | Day Three

Sri Lanka batted their way back into the second Test against Australia on day four by closing on 223 for two in their second innings, just 14 runs behind.

Australia declared their first innings on their overnight score of 411 for seven having built a lead of 237 replying to Sri Lanka's first innings of 174 but the home side were much more solid when they came to bat again.

Half-centuries from Tharanga Paranavitana (55) and Kumar Sangakkara (69 not out) frustrated Australia while Tillakaratne Dilshan (36) and Mahela Jayawardene (38 not out) also made healthy contributions.

Dilshan faced 74 balls before he was the first man to depart, caught by Shane Watson off Ryan Harris while Paranavitana was eventually dismissed caught at the second attempt by Brad Haddin off Michael Hussey, who twice in the match has proved to have a golden arm.

Paranavitana had struck six fours and he put on 81 for the first wicket with Dilshan while Sangakkara and Jayawardene had put on 95 for the third wicket when play was ended early due to a combination of bad light and rain.

Hussey had scored 142 and debutant Shaun Marsh 141 in Australia's innings to put them in a strong position after Harris had taken three wickets as Sri Lanka were blown away in their first innings.

Australia lead the series 1-0 following a 125-run win in the opening match in Galle.

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