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Australia v Sri Lanka: Second Test Day 2 live coverage from Manuka Oval

Hosts take three quick wickets before stumps to end day two in commanding position ... but thoughts remain with injured Sri Lankan.

Andrew Faulkner and Daniel Sankey
16 min read
9:10AMFebruary 02, 2019.
Updated 6:21PMFebruary 02, 2019
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Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka receives medical attention after being struck by a Pat Cummins bouncer. Picture: Getty Images
Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka receives medical attention after being struck by a Pat Cummins bouncer. Picture: Getty Images

It's stumps on Day 2 of the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, with Sri Lanka on 3-123 in their first innings, trailing the hosts by 411.

Andrew Faulkner 6pm: Thoughts with Karunaratne

The cricket is an afterthought when players are felled by fast bowlers. Especially since that day in November, 2014. It appears Dimuth Karunaratne will be OK, which is a blessing given it appeared he was hit in the neck. (You can read Peter Lalor’s Karunaratne update here)

As for the cricket, there was much to recommend day two at Manuka. Kurtis Patterson’s pure, unbridled joy — and that of his family — when he posted his maiden ton, for a start. His strokeplay was a delight, from the rollicking pulls to the supercharged dabs to the point rope. Then there was Tim Paine’s excellent declaration; the skipper resisting the temptation to sap the life out of the Test by batting too long. The Sri Lankan openers were equal parts obdurate and extravagant in adding 82 before Karunaratne was struck. Many would nominate the Pat Cummins ball to get Kusal Mendis as the day’s highlight. Mitchell Starc would say the wicket of Dinesh Chandimal – caught gloving an aborted hook to Paine – was a pretty good moment.

At the end of a day with so much to recommend it, the tourists are again in trouble. At 3-123, with Kusal Perera on 11 from 30 balls and Dhananjaya de Silva on one from six, they trail by 411 runs, and the forecast for tomorrow is mostly fine. Worse than that for the tourists, the Monday outlook has been downgraded from up to 15mm to just 1-6mm. The Test is there for Australia’s taking.

Daniel Sankey 5.53pm: STUMPS — Sri Lanka 3-123

That’s stumps at Manuka Oval, with Sri Lanka finishing day two on 3-123 from 43 overs, chasing Australia’s first innings total of 5(dec)-534. Kusal Perera is 11 not out and Dhanajaya de Silva is 1 not out.

Pat Cummins (1-25), Mitchell Starc (1-32) and Nathan Lyon (1-40) all have a wicket each, but members of both teams will be anxiously awaiting news on Dimuth Karunaratne, who retired hurt on 46 and was taken to hospital after being struck in the back of the neck by a Cummins bouncer.

Daniel Sankey 5.40pm: WICKET! Starc claims Chandimal

A much-needed wicket for under-pressure Australian paceman Mitchell Starc, with a short ball catching the glove of Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal on the way through to wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Chandimal goes for 15 (28 deliveries) and Sri Lanka are now 3-120 close to stumps as Dhanajaya de Silva joins Kusal Perera (9 not out) in the middle.

Andrew Faulkner 5.14pm: WICKET! Cummins bowls Mendis

Pat Cummins has flung down one of the balls of the summer to demolish Kusal Mendis’s stumps. DK Lillee would’ve been proud of the leg-cutter that thundered into Mendis’s off peg.

The no.4’s gone for six to have the tourists 2-101 less than 20 minutes before the scheduled stumps. Cummins’ strike came after Nathan Lyon made the breakthrough. In a classic example of the off-spinners’ craft, Lyon curled one in to Lahiru Thirimanne, who had to play as the ball sharply turned away. It caught the edge and Usman Khawaja held the regulation catch.

Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc is languishing on four overs of Australia’s 36. His absence from the attack will do nothing to quieten those calling out his middling form.

Daniel Sankey 5.13pm: Karunaratne taken to hospital

Sri Lankan batsman Dimuth Karunaratne has been taken to hospital for further treatment after being hit in the neck by a Pat Cummins bouncer. Karunaratne was fitted with a neck brace but was conscious and speaking to medical staff when taken from the ground in a motorised stretcher.

The crowd sat in shocked silence when Karunaratne slumped to the ground after being struck in the back of the neck as he tried in vain to avoid the vicious delivery. The Sri Lankan batsman was complaining of pain in his neck and tingling to his hands, reports Fox Cricket.

Daniel Sankey 5.02pm: WICKET! Lyon snares Thirimanne

Just moments after his opening batting partner was stretchered off, Lahiru Thirimanne has fallen for 41 — caught at slip by Usman Khawaja off the bowling of Nathan Lyon.

Sri Lanka are 1-90, with Kusal Mendis joining Dinesh Chandimal, who’s yet to get off the mark, in the middle.

Andrew Faulkner 4.52pm: Karunaratne floored by bouncer

Dimuth Karunaratne is flat on his back after being struck by a Pat Cummins bouncer. The opener is being attended by doctors after being struck on the helmet. The motorised stretcher is coming out and so are the paramedics, but the latter don’t seem in too much of a hurry, which is a good sign. He’s conscious and in good hands as the Sri Lankan medical staff and Australian doctor Richard Saw were out in a flash.

Medical staff assist Sri Lankan batsman Dimuth Karunaratne. Picture: Fox Cricket
Medical staff assist Sri Lankan batsman Dimuth Karunaratne. Picture: Fox Cricket

Karunaratne retires hurt on 46 not out as Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal joins Lahiru Thirimanne (33 not out) at the crease with his team on 0-82.

Andrew Faulkner 4.12pm: Aussies still can’t break through

The Australians are still seeking a wicket well into the last session. The Sri Lankan left-handers have weathered everything the Australians have thrown at them to be 0-68 after 23 overs, with Dimuth Karunaratne on 39 and Lahiru Thirimanne on 28. Mitchell Starc hasn’t bowled since his opening spell of four overs. Nathan Lyon’s bowling tightly and accurately but hasn’t much troubled two good players of spin.

Daniel Sankey 3.46pm: Sri Lanka bring up 50

When you’re chasing more than 500, you can’t afford an early slip-up ... and Sri Lanka’s batsmen have looked terrific as they’ve taken their team’s score past 50 without the loss of a wicket. Dimuth Karunaratne is 33 not out (52 deliveries) and Lahiru Thirimanne is 19 not out (56 deliveries) with Sri Lanka 0-53 after 18 overs.

Andrew Faulkner 3.13pm: TEA — Sri Lanka 0-47

The Sri Lankan openers have shown grit and flair in equal measure to be 0-47 from 14 overs at tea. Dimuth Karunaratne (29 from 35 balls, four fours) and Lahiru Thirimanne (17 from 43, two fours) have hardly played a false short while unfurling plenty of true ones.

Even Pat Cummins (0-12 from three) was unable to break the stand. At last they’re showing some fight with the bat after the twin capitulations in Brisbane. Curiously, Nathan Lyon might be the key after tea — his first ball turned and bounced sharply into Tim Paine’s gloves. Incidentally, FoxSports’ Neroli Meadows is reporting that Paine is ill. He had a visit from doctor Richard Saw and was bent over, hands on knees, as if in some discomfort between deliveries late in the session.

Andrew Faulkner 2.51pm: Starc struggling again

Poor Mitchell Starc can’t take a trick. He’s flinging them down at 150km/h plus. He’s much straighter than he was in Brisbane. He’s attacking the pegs. And he’s gone for 17 from his first two overs and 22 from his first four.

The Sri Lankan left-handers have been flicking him to the on-side rope almost at will — even with Tim Paine posting two short-square legs. They’ve cut him over the cordon and stolen cheeky drop-and-run singles to cover. The pace is great but the swing is mostly absent. He was quick in Brisbane as well but sprayed it all over the place at the Gabba. At least today his radar’s back. Into the eighth over the Sri Lankans are 0-30.

Andrew Faulkner 2.10pm: Australia declare on 5-534

The Australians have declared their innings closed at 5-534. The closure came minutes before the middle session drinks break was due. Kurtis Patterson finishes on 114 not out (192 balls, 14 fours and a six), and skipper Tim Paine trots off with 45 next to his name (114 balls, three fours).

It’s a strong, bold move by the captain. Yes, there’s plenty of time left in the Test, but the forecast for day four is poor, and given Sri Lanka’s hapless state the hosts probably already have enough runs. Patterson has locked in an Ashes tour and gave the sold out Manuka crowd plenty of value for their hard-earned with his elegant strokeplay, especially square of both sides of the wicket.

His and Joe Burns’ hands underline the folly of not picking them at the start of the summer, if not earlier. And now we will see if Mitchell Starc can bowl his way out of his form slump …

Andrew Faulkner 1.46pm: Patterson brings up his ton

Kurtis Patterson has his hundred as the Australians bat and bat at Manuka. The elegant left-hander raced through the 90s with a lovely controlled hook and a neat push through point — both to the boundary — in the same Chamika Karunaratne over, before stroking a three through cover in the bowler’s next over.

Yes, the bowling has been barely Test standard, the wicket true and the outfield fast, but the New South Welshman has taken opportunity missed by Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne. He and Tim Paine (36 from 98) have taken the score to 5-509 almost 35 minutes into the second session, but still there’s no sign of the declaration.

Not only has Patterson made the most of some very average bowling ... he’s also made the most of a life given to him by the Sri Lankans. Patterson was dropped at short leg off the very first ball he faced in this innings.

Kurtis Patterson is dropped on the first day of the second Test. Picture: Fox Cricket
Kurtis Patterson is dropped on the first day of the second Test. Picture: Fox Cricket

Daniel Sankey 1.27pm: Patterson, Paine roll on

We’re 15 minutes into play after the lunch break and there doesn’t seem to be any hint of Tim Paine and Kurtis Patterson upping the run rate in the chase for a quick declaration. Australia have moved along to 5-487, with Patterson on 82 not out and Paine on 32 not out. Perhaps we’ll see some more intent in their strokemaking once they’ve reached their century and half-century respectively?

Australia’s run rate for the innings has just dipped below four runs per over for the first time today — a far cry from the heady heights of yesterday, when Joe Burns and Travis Head had it hovering just under 4.5 runs per over.

Andrew Faulkner 12.50pm: How long before a declaration?

Kurtis Patterson (74 not out) and Tim Paine (28 not out) have gone to lunch with their side 4-474. They’re coasting along nicely but 90 runs in the session isn’t really enough in the circumstances. They should press on quickly after lunch and declare by the middle of the session and tea at the very, very latest. Yes, this pitch is a lower deck than the Gabba, but the tourists were bowled out for 144 and 139 in the first Test — and there’s up to 15mm forecast for day four.

Andrew Faulkner 12.36pm: Pucovski relapse ‘sad’, Langer says

Australian coach Justin Langer and Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts have spoken this morning about Will Pucovski leaving the Australian squad after the young batsman suffered a relapse of his ongoing mental illness condition.

“In one way it’s sad, in other ways it’s great courage for a young man,” Langer told the ABC this morning.

“There’s a lot of talk about mental health and he’s been fantastic.

“He’s been with the group in the last couple of weeks. He’s a sensational young bloke.

“Love watching him bat, he’s a gun fielder, works really hard, but he’s obviously wanting to get on top of it and he’s gone home for a few days.

“He’s got some Shield cricket coming up and looking forward to seeing him healthy and well.

“He deserves it, because he’s such a good young bloke.”

Will Pucovski. Picture: Getty Images
Will Pucovski. Picture: Getty Images

Langer said the hype around Pucovski’s selection and subsequent non-selection did not have “anything to do with” his relapse this week.

“He and I have had a lot of really good conversations. There’s a lot of hype, but that’s the Australian cricket team.

“I’ve been fascinated by the scrutiny coming into the job, I’ve been in this business for 25 years and I’m feeling it, so I can only imagine how some of the young guys are feeling about all the scrutiny.

“That’s just part of the business we’re in I think it would be great experience for him to have stepped into the jungle for a couple of weeks and see what it’s like.

“He’s a good young player and he’ll get another chance.”

Will Pucovski (right) congratulates Jhye Richardson on receiving his baggy green cap before the first Test at the Gabba last week. Picture: Getty Images
Will Pucovski (right) congratulates Jhye Richardson on receiving his baggy green cap before the first Test at the Gabba last week. Picture: Getty Images

Roberts told SEN Radio Pucovski was handling his latest setback “really maturely”.

“I spoke with Will yesterday morning and he was in good spirits in that conversation.

“But it’s really important that he and we acknowledge how he can manage those challenging times.

“And good on him for identifying that he was experiencing more challenges, and that it would be helpful not playing in this Test now.

“(It’s) more helpful to move away from this environment and prepare him for getting back on the field in other forms of the game in (the) coming weeks.”

Australia's Will Pucovski catches the ball during a practice session at the Gabba. Picture: AFP
Australia's Will Pucovski catches the ball during a practice session at the Gabba. Picture: AFP

“We’ve got a lot of support around him in the form of the team doctor, the sports psych with the men’s team ... I hope you appreciate I don’t want to comment too much on Will specifically, because that ironically wouldn’t help his wellbeing, but I’m really proud of the network we’ve now got in place.”

“We’ve got a pretty robust system now to deal with player wellbeing challenges and it’s something that’s not going to go away.

“It’ll become more prevalent rather than less if anything in future, but I’m really pleased we’re up for that challenge and we’re acutely aware and committed to supporting the players.”

Andrew Faulkner 12.33pm: LUNCH — Australia 5-474

A good session for Australia, adding 90 runs for the loss of just one wicket (Joe Burns for 180). Young batsman Kurtis Patterson (74 not out) is closing in on a maiden Test century, while captain Tim Paine is on 28 not out.

Andrew Faulkner 12pm: Time for a declaration?

At 5-446, the hosts are progressing steadily. But there’s no sign of the urgency that heralds a declaration. Why would they declare, given it’s only day two? Well there’s weather on the way late in the game so declaring at lunch would be a strong attacking stroke by Tim Paine. The Sri Lankans are down, it’s almost time to unleash the quicks to bowl them out. There’s only two results in play now — an Australian win and a draw.

Daniel Sankey 11.34am: 50 for Patterson

Kurtis Patterson brings up his maiden Test half-century, working Chamika Karunaratne off his hips through the legside for a single. His 50 not out has come from 100 deliveries, with five fours and a six. Australia are now 5-347 in the 105th over, with Tim Paine on 17 not out.

Kurtis Patterson in action on day two of the second Test at Manuka Oval. Picture: Getty Images
Kurtis Patterson in action on day two of the second Test at Manuka Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Andrew Faulkner 11.31am: DRINKS — Australia 5-431

Australian captain Tim Paine has started well to skip to 16 from 29 balls. Opening his account with a three punched through mid-off, he then cracked a sweet back-cut to the point rope and followed that with a handsome off-driven four. The skipper could do with some time in the middle after a run of 0, 5, 26 and 22 since his two gutsy hands in Perth. Kurtis Patterson (45) is bearing down on a maiden 50 and after an hour’s play the score’s 5-431.

Andrew Faulkner 10.56am: WICKET! Burns departs

Joe Burns’ epic hand is over. He’s fallen after his half-play, half-leave, ended in him chopping on for 180 (260 balls, 27 fours). Burns was just starting to open up after a steady start, but it was a good probing ball by Kasun Rajitha, who picks up his first wicket.

Kurtis Patterson has cruised along to 37 — his pull shot is again working well today — and new batsman Tim Paine is yet to score. At 4-405, the hosts have added 21 in the first 30 minutes.

Daniel Sankey 10.33am: Play gets started on Day 2

Play is underway on day two of the second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka, with just the two runs coming from Vishwa Fernando’s first over. Australia is 4-386, with Joe Burns on 173 not out and Kurtis Patterson on 26 not out.

9.50am: First look at Day 2 pitch

Andrew Faulkner 9.35am: Rain could be a factor

Canberra is under heavy cloud an hour before play on day two of the second Test. There’s a shower about but the Bureau says there’s nothing much in it at all — it’s predicting “possible rainfall” of 0.0mm to 0.2mm.

The rainfall radar for Canberra and surrounds at 9.30am this morning. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology
The rainfall radar for Canberra and surrounds at 9.30am this morning. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

The outlook for Monday — day four — is more interesting. Up to 15mm is forecast so the odds of a draw have no doubt shortened. The forecast will inform Tim Paine’s declaration deliberations; perhaps he will take the bold path and call his batsmen in at 450 or thereabouts. It’s now 4-384, so the declaration might even come in the first session. That might sound overly hasty, but with the tourists in such disarray, Australia would hate to be denied a win because of rain.

9.30am: Khawaja’s Ashes spot not certain

Usman Khawaja’s path to the Ashes could be devoid of red-ball cricket if he is given the one-day nod by Australian selectors in the lead up to the World Cup.

Desperately out of form and with a maximum of just one Test innings between now and the Ashes, Khawaja has fallen from Australia’s best batsman at the start of the summer to arguably the most under fire.

The 32-year-old has scored just 209 runs at 23.22 this home summer, a far cry from his lofty 141 to save a Test match in Dubai against Pakistan in October. With David Warner and Steve Smith returning and Joe Burns and Marcus Harris finding form, Khawaja may need a statement long-form innings for both himself and selectors before the side for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on August 1 is picked.

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis takes the catch to dismiss Australia’s Usman Khawaja yesterday. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis takes the catch to dismiss Australia’s Usman Khawaja yesterday. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The only problem for Khawaja is where that could possibly happen, given his schedule.

Khawaja formed part of Australia’s one-day team against India last month, and if selected will head to the subcontinent for a return series starting on March 2. That will almost certainly rule him out of the first round of the Sheffield Shield for Queensland after the Big Bash League, as well as the two that follow. Australia then have a one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE in late March and early April, ruling him out of the rest of the Shield competition. An Australian A side will also tour England this winter, but it will run concurrently with the World Cup, meaning that if Khawaja is picked in that 15-man squad, he again won’t play red-ball cricket.

That could also give a chance to a number of top-order competitors to impress. And unlike Burns, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh, Khawaja does not yet have a county deal for next season, potentially leaving him high and dry for red-ball cricket.

Ultimately, it means Khawaja’s next long-format match could be on July 23, when Australia play Australia A in the only lead-up match before the Ashes.

AAP

9am: Pucovski released from Test squad

Talented Victorian batsman and Test debutant-in-waiting Will Pucovski has been released from the Australian squad as he continues to deal with mental health issues.

Pucovski, 20, will return to Melbourne after missing selection for both Tests against Sri Lanka.

“He reported some challenges over the past few days, and the decision has been made that the best thing for Will’s welfare is for him to return home to Melbourne,” said Cricket Australia doctor Richard Saw, via a statement issued last night.

“Will has been proactive in this process and while he has made significant progress, he feels this is the best course of action to get ready to play cricket for Victoria.

Will Pucovski runs drinks for Australia yesterday. Picture: Getty Images
Will Pucovski runs drinks for Australia yesterday. Picture: Getty Images

“Will’s decision to speak up and continue to ask for assistance in managing his ongoing mental health is extremely positive.”

Pucovski rose to prominence when he made 243 against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield in October, but he then took a six-week break from the sport to deal with a mental health-related illness.

Last month, shortly before being named in the Australian Test squad, Pucovski told Fox Cricket of the mental anguish endured while plundering the WA attack at the WACA.

“It was one of those things where what it looked like from the outside wasn’t quite matching up with what it was on the inside … I was more confused than at any other time in my life,” said Pucovski, who expects to undergo regular counselling for the rest of his life.

AAP

8.30am: Burns’ reward for persistence

Joe Burns finally has his reward after spending time not knowing when his next opportunity would come in Test cricket after four games and three axings in two-and-a-half years.

Burns went to stumps on yesterday’s first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka with a career-high score of 172no, topping his 170 in February 2016 against New Zealand.

But after that knock against the Black Caps, he was dropped three times and forced to fight his way back through the Sheffield Shield.

The Queenslander was sacked midway through Australia’s 2016 loss in Sri Lanka, given a reprieve in Hobart later that year and dropped again after the South African flogging.

His next chance came in the final Test of last year’s South African tour after the ball-tampering saga with Australia short on stocks, before again being overlooked in October for Pakistan in the UAE.

Australia’s Joe Burns (left) acknowledges applause from the crowd as he leaves the field yesterday. Picture: AAP
Australia’s Joe Burns (left) acknowledges applause from the crowd as he leaves the field yesterday. Picture: AAP

“It can be tough. Obviously extreme circumstances in how (the two different returns) unfolded,” Burns said.

“That’s not just cricket — that’s life sometimes. You can’t plan too far ahead and just take the good.

“You never know when’s your last Test match or when you could be out of the team.

“I think every player, when you’re out of the team, you wonder if the opportunities that were there in the past will be there in the future.”

Burns’ responses in recent years have been clear. He hit 725 runs at 55.76 in last season’s Shield before the late call-up in South Africa, and had to again knock the door down this summer with an average of 47.20 in the domestic competition before being called up last week for Brisbane.

Retained for the first time in two years, he wouldn’t miss his opportunity again.

“It makes days like today where you get to kiss the badge on your helmet bloody good,” Burns said.

AAP

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-v-sri-lanka-second-test-day-2-live-coverage-from-manuka-oval/news-story/b9eb9e774b33838b2df41ef1e7d618c6