Sangakkara offers Sri Lanka hope
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
HOBART, Nov 19 (BBC): Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten century as Sri Lanka reached 247-3 chasing a record 507 for victory in the second Test against Australia.
The hosts declared at 210-2 late on the morning of the fourth day in Hobart.
Sri Lanka rapidly lost their first wicket, Mitchell Johnson removing Michael Vandrort for four. But Marvan Atapattu (80) and Sangakkara (109no) put on 143 for the second wicket, before Mahela Jayawardene fell first ball to a fired up Brett Lee.
"You've got to be realistic that 507 is a massive ask but the direction in which we go to tomorrow is now basically up to us," said Sangakkara.
"If we can get through to lunch without losing a wicket and depending on the amount of runs we get then things get a lot clearer. "I don't really want to be a soothsayer and say what will happen, but we always go into the middle with a lot of belief and we try as best."
Australia ensured Muttiah Muralitharan would have to wait until the home series against England to have the chance to overhaul Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne as the leading wicket-taker in Test history.
Sri Lanka 246 and 3 for 247 (Sangakkara 109*, Atapattu 80) need a further 260 runs to beat Australia 5 for 542 dec and 2 for 210 dec (Jaques 68, Ponting 53*)
The hosts declared at 210-2 late on the morning of the fourth day in Hobart.
Sri Lanka rapidly lost their first wicket, Mitchell Johnson removing Michael Vandrort for four. But Marvan Atapattu (80) and Sangakkara (109no) put on 143 for the second wicket, before Mahela Jayawardene fell first ball to a fired up Brett Lee.
"You've got to be realistic that 507 is a massive ask but the direction in which we go to tomorrow is now basically up to us," said Sangakkara.
"If we can get through to lunch without losing a wicket and depending on the amount of runs we get then things get a lot clearer. "I don't really want to be a soothsayer and say what will happen, but we always go into the middle with a lot of belief and we try as best."
Australia ensured Muttiah Muralitharan would have to wait until the home series against England to have the chance to overhaul Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne as the leading wicket-taker in Test history.
Sri Lanka 246 and 3 for 247 (Sangakkara 109*, Atapattu 80) need a further 260 runs to beat Australia 5 for 542 dec and 2 for 210 dec (Jaques 68, Ponting 53*)