Lunch Sri Lanka 336 and 3 for 144 (Sangakkara 58*, Samaraweera 17*) need another 249 runs to beat Australia 5 for 450 dec and 278
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Just as he did at the same ground five years ago, Kumar Sangakkara was frustrating the Australians in their push for victory on the final day. At lunch, Sri Lanka were 3 for 144 in their chase of 393 and having lost only one wicket in the first session, that of the captain Mahela Jayawardene to the bowling of Peter Siddle, they were relying on Sangakkara, who was unbeaten on 58, and Thilan Samaraweera, who had 17.
Although victory was extremely unlikely for the Sri Lankans, Sangakkara had at least given them hope of batting out a draw by surviving until lunch with his wicket intact. However, the pitch continued to provide severe challenges for the batsmen, the occasional ball rising sharply while others stayed low, including one that drew a positive lbw decision from the umpire Nigel Llong shortly before the break.
Sangakkara was on 54 when he tried to pull a Shane Watson delivery that kept low and after being given out lbw, he asked for a review of Llong's decision. The replays showed Watson, who was coming around the wicket, had struck Sangakkara just outside the line of off stump and the batsman was reprieved. It was a potentially pivotal moment in the match, with Angleo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene and the bowlers the only batsmen still to come.
By lunch, Sangakkara had occupied the crease for 206 deliveries in a cautious innings that had also included five boundaries. He brought up his half-century from his 165th ball with a pull to the midwicket boundary off a generous full toss from David Warner. Samaraweera was also watchful, although he showed a willingness to mix things up when he advanced to Nathan Lyon and lofted a boundary to long-on.
Samaraweera had come to the crease after the departure of Jayawardene, who pushed tentatively at a Siddle delivery outside off stump and was caught at slip for 19 from 77 deliveries. By lunch, the Sri Lankans had added 79 to their overnight total for the loss of one wicket.
Sangakkara fights with half-century
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Sangakkara fights with half-century
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Sangakkara fights with half-century
