16/09Result
3rd Test, Australia tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Sep 16-20 2011
Match drawn
Player of the Match
Michael HusseyAustralia
16/09Result
3rd Test, Australia tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo, Sep 16-20 2011
Match drawn
Player of the Match
Michael HusseyAustralia
2037dThe Report by Brydon Coverdale

Hughes hundred hurts Sri Lanka's hopes

Phillip Hughes scored his first Test century in two-and-a -half years to give Australia every chance of playing out a series-winning draw at the SSC

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

PJ Hughes
PJ Hughes
126(220) 16x4 - 1x6
Control %93%
  • Productive Shot
  • leg glance
  • 36 runs
  • 4x4 - 0x6
14 9 22 18 20 10 0 33
MEK Hussey
118(178) 12x4 - 2x6
Control %95%
  • Productive Shot
  • leg glance
  • 26 runs
  • 0x4 - 1x6
8 5 22 13 23 16 2 29

Best performances - Bowlers

HMRKB Herath
HMRKB Herath
O52
M11
R157
W7
Eco3.01
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
RMS Eranga
RMS Eranga
O23.3
M6
R65
W4
Eco2.76
RHB
OFFLEG
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF

Match Details

Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo

Series

Australia tour of Sri Lanka

Toss

Sri Lanka , elected to field first

Player Of The Match

AustraliaMichael Hussey

Player Of The Series

AustraliaMichael Hussey

Series result

Australia won the 3-match series 1-0

Match number

Test no. 2008

Season

2011

Hours of play (local time)

10am start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00

Match days

16,17,18,19,20 September 2011 (5-day match)

Test debut

undefinedShaminda Eranga

Umpires

PakistanAleem DarNew ZealandTony Hill

TV Umpires

EnglandRichard Kettleborough

Reserve Umpire

Sri LankaAsoka de Silva

Match Referee

EnglandChris Broad

Scorecard Summary

AUSTRALIA 316(104.3 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

SRI LANKA 473(174 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

AUSTRALIA 488(138.5 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

SRI LANKA 7/0(2 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

Scorer: S Balasubramanian | Commentator: Nitin Sundar

END OF OVER:
2 | 4 Runs | SL: 7/0

  • Lahiru Thirimanne4 (6b)
  • Tharanga Paranavitana2 (6b)
  • Nathan Lyon1-0-4-0
  • Trent Copeland1-0-3-0

That's the end of what's been a very good series, though the denouement was farcical today. Full marks to Australia for emerging trumps in these conditions. On behalf of the ESPNcricinfo gang, this is Nitin Sundar signing off. So long, and thanks for all the smart feedback. It was a pleasure!

The Warne-Murali Trophy is an unusual piece of silverware, or should I say woodware. It has two fists gripping balls, and since Murali was such a wristy practitioner, it is tough to say which hand is whose. Neither hand is particularly pudgy either!

Presentations time, then. Haroon Lorgat is one of the dignitaries. Wonder what he thinks of this pitch. Sangakkara gets a special memento for his 100th Test from Lorgat, and another one from the SSC. What a legend!

Clarke is up next to pick up the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy. "Very proud with the way we played this whose tour, the ODIs and the Tests. The new players have made most of their opportunities too, which is pleasing. We will take a lot of heart out of this series, but South Africa will be a completely different challenge."

Hussey is Man of the Match for the third time on the trot, and inevitably the Man of the Series too. What an accomplishment! "Its been a very tough series. South Africa is going to be another tough series and I look forward to it."

Dilshan: "I am happy with the way we played here, we came back strongly. We had a chance to win this one, but they played better cricket to save it and take the series. I am happy with the way Mathews and Thirimanne have come along. Also pleased with the way I found form here."

Mercy on us, the SL openers agree to call the game off at the first opportunity. Australia move to No. 4 in the ICC ratings and SL slip to 5th.

Jason: "Would have been nice to give Hussey the new ball. Never know, SL could have been 6 down already."

Valerio: "Either play to the finish or call the game off as soon as both sides agree they could not be bothered chasing a result. In this match that would have been around Lunch on Day 3. We all could have then moved on with our lives. Oh the frustration of these batting pitches." The game "went the distance" Valerio, so Chris Broad is going to wax eloquent about it in his report. Unlike the Galle wicket, which was a "disgrace".

1.6
0
Lyon to Thirimanne, no run, another leave outside off, Lyon spins the last ball of the series sharply away from Thirimanne's leave.
1.5
0
Lyon to Thirimanne, no run, breaks away from outside off now, Thirimanne lets it go.
1.4
0
Lyon to Thirimanne, no run, speared in on middle and leg, nudged to the leg side.
1.3
0
Lyon to Thirimanne, no run, too short and wide, Thirimanne tries to cut but it if far away from him.
1.2
0
Lyon to Thirimanne, no run, curled in from outside off stump, solidly defended.

Round the stumps now.

1.1
4
Lyon to Thirimanne, FOUR, tossed up outside off, Thirimanne opens the face as he steers and gets it away through point for four.

PutMarshy: "See the big picture guys. Why would Clarke have declared earlier and risked Johnson tweaking a hammy? Oh. Hang on. Pup - a word in your ear mate!"

Lyon gets the new ball. Last over of the series?

Match Coverage

All Match News

  • Dilshan to stay at No. 5

    Tillakaratne Dilshan has admitted his side are finding it hard to deal with the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan and said it would take time for them to groom bowlers who could win them Tests

  • As special a day as I've had - Clarke

    Australia's 1-0 series victory over Sri Lanka, completed with a draw at the SSC in Colombo, was one of Michael Clarke's proudest days

  • Missed stumpings and a long conversation

    Plays of the Day from the fifth day of the SSC Test between Sri Lanka and Australia

  • Nielsen stands down as Australia's coach

    Tim Nielsen has stood down as Australia's coach after helping the side to a series victory in Sri Lanka

  • At last, a captain's knock

    Michael Clarke's poise as a leader has been striking, exhibiting a superb feel for the game. But he waited until the final day of the series to produce the sort of spinal contribution that can define a captain