SL A v Aus A – Day 2 report
As expected, the 9.00 O’clock start under grey skies and a wicket dampened by dew saw Australia open bowling with spinner O’Keefe and Hilfenhaus who was recovering from injury and bowled within himself. after a couple of overs O’Keefe started to spin the ball viciously with plenty of bounce and had the Srilankans all at sea.Chandimal was the first to go trying to hit the left arm spinner down the ground was caught at backward point brilliantly by Hilfenhaus for 15 with the score at 39. Thrimanne got an unfortunate caught behind decision off his forearm attempting to sweep Okeefe for a patient 20. He battled it out gamely under very difficult conditions. . Wickets fell at regular intervals and none of the SriLankan batsman were allowed to settle down. Kaushal Silva and Jeewan Mendis both fell to O’keefe, while Chamara Silva was out bowled by pace man George for 9 , playing the wrong line. Kulasekera flattered looking to attack the bowling but with his individual score at 16 and the total at 94 he was ruled out LBW to Starc.SriLanka were all out for 103.
Australia too started cautiously with Klinger and Cowan ,against a double spin SriLanka attack of Senanayake and Mendis. Cowan fell quickly at 13 LBW to Senanayke and then Khawaja went bowled by Prasad for 30 and the total 69.Prasad struck again at 74 when he bowled Kilinger, and Pradeep bowled Forrest with a beauty at 90. The wicket was now drying up nicely with the sun shining bright and the skies blue. With the score at 120 Vidanapathirana clean bowled McDonanld for 21 and then Prasad soon picked up his third wicket when he had Wade caught behind by wicket keeper Kausha Silva for 8, with the score at 135 .
Under highly improved and dry batting conditions, Skipper Bailey and O’keefe put together 63 runs and were together at close. Australia were 200 for 6 wickets with Bailey unbeaten on 57. The match starts tomorrow the third day at 9.10 in the morning .
Scores
Australia A 1st Innings 208 all out.
O’Keefe 61, Hilfenhaus 42, Cowan 29
Senanayake 8/70, Prasad 2/21
Sri Lanka A 1st Innings 103 all out.
Thirimanne 20, Kulasekara 16, Chandimal 15
O’Keefe 7/35, Starc 2/13, George 1/24
Australia A 2nd Innings 200/6
Bailey 57*, Klinger 32, Khawaja 30
Prasad 3/34, Fernando 1/45, Senanayake 1/55
