Karunaratne, Jayawardene lead Sri Lanka fightback

SYDNEY (AFP) –

Sri Lankan batsman Dimuth Karunaratne fires a shot on day three of the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, 2013. The SCG pitch was playing easier under a baking sun, raising hopes that Sri Lanka would go on and win their first-ever Test match in Australia at the 13th attempt.

An unbroken partnership of 106 between Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene and Dimuth Karunaratne all but wiped out Australia’s innings lead on the third day of the final Test in Sydney.

The pair pushed the tourists to the brink of hitting the front after the early loss of Tillakaratne Dilshan for five to turn the pressure back on the Australians.

At tea, Sri Lanka were 130 for one and trailing by eight runs with Karunaratne on 83 and Jayawardene not out 38. Their 100-run partnership came up in 98 minutes.

The SCG pitch was playing easier under a baking sun, raising hopes that Sri Lanka would go on and win their first-ever Test match in Australia at the 13th attempt.

Dilshan was caught centimetres from the ground by Phil Hughes at third slip off Mitchell Johnson in the seventh over.

Australian batsman Matthew Wade plays a shot on the way to his century on day three of the third Test against Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, 2013. Australia declared to lead Sri Lanka by 138 runs on the first innings. Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath finished Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker with four for 95 off 31 overs.

Karunaratne, playing his best innings of the series, gave a sharp chance to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade when on 54, off spinner Nathan Lyon.

Earlier Wade scored a thrilling unbeaten century as Australia declared to lead Sri Lanka by 138 runs on the first innings.

Wade opened up in a last-wicket stand of 39 with Jackson Bird to grab his second Test century and gave skipper Michael Clarke the opportunity to declare his team’s innings at 432 for nine in the half hour before lunch.

Wade rushed towards his teammates in the Sydney Cricket Ground Members Stand and kissed his helmet after crashing Suranga Lakmal for a boundary to raise his century off 158 balls, after setting out on the third day on 47.

He was dropped by Dhammika Prasad at fine leg two balls later going for another big heave before skipper Clarke called a halt with the declaration.

Bird provided staunch support to give Wade his chance to go after his against-the-odds century. Wade was on 70 when the fast bowler came to the crease. Bird remained six not out.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath finished Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker with four for 95 off 31 overs.

Australia lost the wickets of Peter Siddle (38), Mitchell Starc (2) and Nathan Lyon (4) on the third morning, but the tourists were unable to prevent a rush of late runs as Wade went all out after his century.