da realsbet： Australia were firmly in control of theopening test at lunch on the fourth day, at 311 for 3
The Wisden Bulletin by Charlie Austin11-Mar-2004Lunch
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The sweep played a significant role in Matthew Hayden’s survival, as well as his dismissal© Getty Images
As far as Australia are concerned, normal service has been resumed. Afterbeing under the cosh for two days, Australia were firmly in control of theopening Test at lunch on the fourth day. Starting the morning on 193 for 2with a lead of 32, Australia turned the screws as they added 118 runs in 30overs to finish on 311 for 3.That is already the highest second-innings score in Galle’s 10-match historyand Sri Lanka now face the prospect of a daunting last-innings run-chase. Tomake matters worse, Sri Lanka suffered an injury blow too, as SanathJayasuriya split the webbing between his thumb and first finger on hisright hand, and received one stitch, which could prevent him from batting in the second innings.While Sri Lanka had wavered and eventually stalled the previous morning, asthey tried to extend their first-innings lead and tighten their grip on thematch, Australia bristled with positive intent and runs flowed during thefirst 45 minutes.Hayden, though, was riding his luck against the spinners. He thumped oneglorious drive through extra cover off Muttiah Muralitharan but came withininches of being caught at mid-off from a leading edge. One thin edge flewthrough a vacant slip area off Upul Chandana and he missed several attemptedsweeps.The sweep shot, one of his most prolific scoring strokes, eventually broughtabout his downfall against Muralitharan. Having added 24 to his overnightscore, he cued a simple catch to Mahela Jayawardene at slip off the toe ofhis bat. Hayden had scored 130 from 211 balls and hit 12 fours and two sixes(245 for 3).Darren Lehmann should have lasted just two balls as he poked Muralitharan’swrong’un straight to short leg. But Tillakaratne Dilshan, his fingersbandaged like a paranoid pianist, fumbled the catch. Lehmann breathed a signof relief and vowed to be more forthright in the future: the next over, heclobbered Muralitharan straight through cover.Lehmann adopted a no-nonsense approach and unsettled Sri Lanka’s spinnerswith his inventiveness. He shuffled across his stumps and shoveled toleg. Every now and then he biffed the ball straight down the ground and puffed out his chest. Australia raced past 300 as Lehmann and Martyn added 66 for thefourth wicket.At the break, Martyn, who passed fifty for the 16th time in his career andwill hope he can now reach a hundred for the first time in over two years,was unbeaten on 58 from 123 balls and Lehmann was 37 not out.