da pinup bet： Justin Langer – cleared of bringing the game into disrepute by the ICC’smatch referee last night after a bizarre incident in the field – bouncedback to form to rescue Australia in the fourth day of their final Test against Sri Lanka
The Wisden Bulletin by Charlie Austin27-Mar-2004Close Sri Lanka 407 and 18 for 0 need 352 more runs to beat Australia 401 and 375 (Langer 166, Katich 86, Herath 4-92)
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Justin Langer returned to form with a fiesty 166© Getty Images
Justin Langer – cleared of bringing the game into disrepute by the ICC’smatch referee last night after a bizarre incident in the field – bouncedback to form to rescue Australia in the fourth day of their final Test against Sri Lanka. Australia had collapsed from a comfortable 79 for 1, a few minutes before the close of play last night, to 98 for 5 within the first half-hour of the morning. But Langer, supported by Simon Katich, reclaimed the upper hand with a superb unbeaten 166, from 295 balls, to set Sri Lanka a mammoth target of 370 runs.Sri Lanka were left weary and disheartened by the end of the Australian innings, their chance for a morale-boosting victory to end the series almost certainly gone – the highest total they have ever chased to win a Test is the 326 for 5 they scored against Zimbabwe in Feb 1998, and the average last-innings score at the Sinhalese Sports Club is 154. Instead, Sri Lanka face a backs-to-the-wall fight to avoid a series whitewash.Sanath Jayasuriya raised the spirits of the small local crowd with athree-card trick of off-side boundaries in Michael Kasprowicz’s first over,and Sri Lanka safely negotiated the five overs to the close to reach 18 for no loss. But the final day’s battle for survival is sure to be tough. Jayasuriya closed on 13 not out, and Marvan Atapattu was unbeaten on 5.Langer, who needed a runner in the afternoon after suffering from severe legcramps, found a stubborn ally in Katich, who justified his inclusion in theside with a patient and hardworking 86, from 214 balls. The pair clawed theinitiative back Australia’s way with a marathon 218-run stand. During themorning they scored freely, as 102 runs were added in 29.4 overs, but in theafternoon the tempo of game slowed to a crawl.Sri Lanka, frustrated by their inability to break the partnership, swung ontothe defensive immediately after lunch. Bizarrely, Muttiah Muralitharangrazed in the outfield under his floppy hat for more than an hour withoutbeing called up to bowl. Thilan Samaraweera blocked up one end with his flatoffbreaks, and Rangana Herath bowled his slow left-arm spin with a 7-2 leg-side field. It was a grueling passage of play with only 27 runs eked out inthe first hour.Hashan Tillakaratne eventually turned back to his seamers, giving NuwanZoysa, who had laboured in the field looking half-fit, an opportunity toearn his match fee. Zoysa caused some problems for Katich and Langer, whowas hobbling around in pain, as he found a hint of reverse swing. But he wasunable to breakthrough and finally, almost reluctantly, Tillakaratne turnedto his most senior bowlers: Murali and Chaminda Vaas.Ironically, their entry into the attack precipitated a short burst ofscoring, carrying the lead past 250, the target that Tillakaratne believedSri Lanka could chase. Sri Lanka grew increasingly ragged, their despondentbody language betraying the frustration of, once again, for the third Test ina row, failing to land the killer punch with Australia on the rack.
Simon Katich could not reach a century, but his innings of 86, coming after Australia were 98 for 5, was invaluable for his team© Getty Images
Katich was the chief beneficiary of Sri Lanka’s sloppiness, althoughTillakaratne Dilshan’s bat-pad fumble off Langer in the morning wasultimately the most costly miss. Katich first poked a half-chance throughDilshan’s legs at short leg on 20, and was then dropped twice by KumarSangakkara behind the stumps: off Murali on 47 just before tea, and on 54 offVaas as Sri Lanka turned to the second new ball in desperation.Langer and Katich were finally separated as they searched for quick runs.Langer, exhausted and hobbling, chopped a Vaas delivery onto his stumps.Vaas lofted his hands in shock, relief and celebration. Meanwhile, Katich was closingin on a second Test hundred, smacking Murali for a clinical straight six.But Murali claimed wicket No. 513, drawing level with Warne.Adam Gilchrist finished the innings in some style, clattering two enormoussixes on his way to a run-a-ball 31, before Australia were bowled out for375. Herath cleaned up Warne and Brad Williams at the death to finish withcareer best figures of 4 for 92 on his return to international cricket.Murali ended with 3 for 93, and a series bounty of 28 wickets. Warne, though, has achance to eclipse him yet.In the morning, Sri Lanka opened with spin on the bald, cream-cracker drypitch. The ball spun sharply and Sri Lanka needed just four overs to snatchthe initiative. Damien Martyn (9) was pinned to the crease by a flighted ball from Rangana Herath that pitched on middle and straightened. DarrenLehmann (1), the first-innings centurion and Australia’s leading run-scorerin the series, was caught behind off Muralitharan as he tried toflash an offbreak through point (98 for 5).Langer, reprieved on 7 on Friday, when he gloved a catch to bat-pad,also enjoyed some luck on the fourth morning, as Tillakaratne Dilshan spilleda sharp chance at silly point. But Australia’s mini-crisis coaxed him out ofhis shell and he switched onto the offensive against the spinners. Langerrelied heavily on the sweep against Muralitharan but was prepared to use hisfeet against Herath, lofting a six over wide long-on to bring up his firstfifty of the series – his previous highest score was 32.