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Lankans show grit
Marvan at it in the nick of time
Callistus Davy reporting from Cairns
Skipper Marvan Atapattu regained his form just when it mattered the most as he batted with resolution and poise to keep Sri Lanka afloat after Australia were bowled out for 517 on the second day of the second cricket Test here at the Cazaly stadium in Cairns yesterday.

Contrary to his shaky batting in the first Test, Atapattu lifted both his game and the morale of the team with a workman-like approach for an unbeaten 75 with 11 fours as Sri Lanka reached 184 for 2 after a familiar jittery start when a nervous Sanath Jayasuriya hung his bat in the way of a fast rising ball from Jason Gillespie to be caught behind by a diving Adam Gilchrist for 13.

By batting with determination Atapattu made certain Sri Lanka did not throw away the rewards of a spirited show by fast bowler Lasith Malinga and leg-spinner Upul Chandana who combined effectively to put the brakes on the Australians who lost seven wickets for just 63 runs from an overnight 370 for 2.

Malinga's rocket-like pace brought him four wickets while Chandana became a hero for the team by picking up five wickets in just 11.1 overs as the Australians found him a tough customer to put away in their quest for quick runs.

"All credit to Sri Lanka, they bowled a better line and length and we will have to work very hard from here to win this match", said Gilchrist after the day's play.

Chandana's part came at a crucial time when the pace duo of Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa made it easy for the Australian batsmen by feeding Damien Martyn (97) and Darren Lehmann (50) with short or over-pitched balls that they relished in dispatching for boundaries.

Sri Lanka's chances of putting back the pressure on Australia would depend very much on how Atapattu and his overnight partner Mahela Jayawardena negotiate the opening overs of today's morning session.

In the process of returning to the game, Atapattu along with Kumar Sangakkara established a new record partnership of 138 runs for second wicket which surpassed a previous best 92 between Asanka Gurusinghe and Roshan Mahanama against Australia in 1992. Their stand could have blossomed further but Sangakkara (74) gifted his wicket on a platter by stroking a ball from Shane Warne into the waiting hands of Gillespie at long-on just when it was thought that the pair had settled in to take the game away from Australia.

Sangakkara initially rode his luck playing and missing many quick balls and even collapsed under a bouncer from Gillespie. But after going into a shell, Sangakkara came out to feast on Warne by cutting and driving the leg-spinner for boundaries before losing the contest and letting the bowler have the last laugh when Gillespie who was specifically installed for a catch swallowed him near the boundary.

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