Gilchrist in plunder mode, Aussies pile on Lankan agony

With Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke out, Sri Lanka got a look at Australia8217;s lower middle order for the first time...

With Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke out, Sri Lanka got a look at Australia8217;s lower middle order for the first time in the series on Saturday.

Enter Adam Gilchrist. Gilchrist, batting in a Test for the first time in 10 months, clubbed three sixes and seven boundaries in an unbeaten 67 before Australia declared their innings at 542 for five on the second afternoon of the second Test.

Gilchrist hit consecutive sixes off Muttiah Muralitharan 8212; the second which went out of Bellerive Oval and disappeared down an adjacent road 8212; to become the first batsman to hit 100 sixes in a Test career.

8220;It8217;s a not a milestone you set out to achieve, but it8217;s unique,8221; Gilchrist said. 8220;There aren8217;t many things that you do in life that you8217;re the only person ever to have done. With that in mind it would be nice to have the ball that notched that 100.8221;

Skipper Ricky Ponting declared the first innings closed in the next over when Andrew Symonds hit a single to reach 50. Symonds did not return to field after injuring his ankle while batting.

In reply, Sri Lanka were 30 without loss from 12 overs before bad light stopped play with Marvan Atapattu on 18 and Michael Vandort on 12.

Australia resumed at 329 for three on Saturday and added 213 for the loss of two wickets in two and a bit rain-interrupted sessions. Hussey stroked 18 boundaries and a six before he was trapped lbw by a Fernando yorker with the total at 410.

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Fernando8217;s 2-134 was the best return of an under-strength Sri Lankan attack missing Farveez Maharoof, who was unable to bowl because of injury. Muralitharan had 1-140 from 46 overs and Malinga8217;s figures were 1-156.

Scoreboard

Australia, 1st Innings

Overnight: 329-3

M Hussey lbw b Fernando 132, M Clarke c P Jayawardene b Malinga 71, A Symonds not out 50, A Gilchrist not out 67

Extras 17nb,1w, 1lb, 5b 24

Total: 5 wkts, 133 overs 542 dec

Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-133, 3-285, 4-410, 5-447

Bowling: Malinga 35-6-156-1, Maharoof 23-4-82-0, Fernando 26-4-134-2, Muralitharan 46-4-140-1, Jayasuriya 9-1-24-1.

Sri Lanka, 1st Innings

M Atapattu batting 18, M Vandort batting 12

Total: no loss, 12 overs 30

Bowling: Lee 6-2-14-0, Johnson 6-2-16-0