Wish I had a long script for your reading pleasure, but mother nature in Sri Lanka has been unpredictable in recent times. Whilst play gets restricted, so do my thoughts and views.
Of course, Australia:s domination over Sri Lanka as in the first two days continued claiming the key wickets of Kamindu Mendis for 15 coming a cropper swishing at a flying leg side delivery from Mitchell Starc followed by the Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva stumped rushing suicidally and missing a Matthew Kuhnemann delivery for 22. Mendis fell with the score 67 and Dhananjaya after adding 40 for the fifth wicket, a partnership that went asunder due to indiscretion when it looked like gathering steam. By and large careless batting was at a price for the country as Australia further tightened their grip to making Sri Lanka follow on.
As it was, Australia boxed on on a rain robbed day of clearly the last two sessions following torrential rain just before lunch having
dominated in all sessions of the first two days of play. Sri Lanka got thumped, ran behind the leather, strained their muscles, dehydrated their system, but most of all looked mediocre in their own backyard as the visitors gave us a display on how to handle spin on a slow dry pitch.
Conceeding 654 runs despite the negative bowling by Sri Lanka to restrict the run flow shows the skill levels and batsmanship of Australia in subcontinent conditions.
Then even their spin cordon of Nathen Lyon , Todd Murphy, and Mathew Khenaman are more skilful in extracting spin and bounce than their backyard counterpart.
Whilst Asitha Fernando was given the brand new ball to only bowl 7 overs , Steven Smith used his seamer Mitchell Starch in abundance, and the south paw gifted his Captain with 2 scalps on these conditions is an activement to write home about.
Sri Lanka struggled on 44 for 3 wickets overnight and was 136 for 5 wickets and remains under the pump with mother nature coming to their rescue at stumps on day 3.
Only Dinesh Chandimal is batting with authority whilst DDS 22, Kamindu Mendis 15 , Mathews 7 , with Karunaratne and Fernando not getting to double figures on a placid surface is a concern for coach Sanath Jayasuriya.
Batting is getting tough by the overs , but credit to Dinesh Chandimal, who is unbeaten on 63. He will hope that Kusal Mendis, who is at the wickets on 10, will be able to keep one end going if Sri Lanka is to stave off defeat.
SriLanka is now on the back foot with last recognised batters at the wickets.
If play gets underway and the Aussies scalp Chandimal or Kusal Mendis, the tail gets exposed to the morning moisture, then we don’t need a rocket scientist to refer the record books of Sri Lankan tail enders story which is below par.
Mathew Khunaman 2 scalps Mitch Starch 2 scalps and Nathen Lyon 1 scalp so far is a breath of fresh air to the Australian dressing room whilst it is a worry for the home team.