Dilshan falls before tea

18 September 2011 09:25 am

Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan fell shortly before tea for a well-made 81, as Sri Lanka made 337 at the end of the second session on the third day of the third test against Australia -- a lead of 19 runs. 

Dilshan, who was pushed down the order due to poor performances in this series, rode a wave of luck early on as he looked jittered, with a ball just missing the stumps and another falling agonisingly short of the midwicket fielder. After the initial nerves though, he batted sensibly yet aggressively, putting on a 121-run partnership with Angelo Mathews, which gave Sri Lanka a first innings lead for the first time in the series.
But closing on a hundred, Dilshan was caught behind attempting to guide the ball to third-man, giving Trent Copeland his first wicket of the game.

Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 42 along with Prassana Jayawardena, who was on 5. (SMD)