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AUS win 3 - 0 AUS gains 11 points; SL loses 11 points
Draw 1.5 - 1.5 SL gains 11 points; AUS loses 11 points
SL win 3 - 0 SL gains 34 points; SL loses 34 points
Galle
8 - 12 March 2004
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Sri Lanka struck early and dismissed Langer (12) at 1 for 31. During the second hour, Hayden (41) and Ponting (21) were dismissed and at lunch, Australia was 3 for 109 with the home side holding a slight edge. Australia took the total to 148 before Martyn (42), Symonds (0) on debut and Gilchrist (4) were out in the space of 15 runs as Australia stumbled to 6 for 163. At tea, Australia had recovered to 6 for 209, but was far from being in control of the match. Australia lost 4 wickets for 5 runs after tea when Lehmann (63), Warne (23), Kasprowicz (1) and MacGill (0) were dismissed, to be all out for 220 runs. Muralitharan was the best of the bowlers with 6 for 59 off 21.3 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka lost Jayasuriya (35) on the way to a comfortable 1 for 81 from the remaining 22 overs before stumps.
Australia struck twice during the second morning session and dismissed Sangakkara (22) and Atapattu (47) before Sri Lanka went to lunch comfortably placed at 3 for 162. Sri Lanka took the score to 198 before Symonds claimed his first Test wicket, that of Jayawardene (68). At tea, Sri Lanka had established a first innings lead of 52 runs with the score 4 for 272. Australia dismissed Tillakaratne (33) soon after play resumed. Shortly before stumps, Dilshan (104) posted his third Test century and was caught at 6 for 323. At stumps, Sri Lanka was well placed at 6 for 342 with a 122 run lead.
Australia began the third day needing cheep and quick wickets to have any chance of climbing back into the match. Sri Lanka was only able to score 17 runs in the first hour before Chandana (27) was out at 7 for 369. That wicket triggered a collapse with the final four wickets falling for 12 runs after Vaas (0), Dharmasena (6) and Muralitharan (0) came and went in six overs. Sri Lanka was all out for 381 with a valuable first innings lead of 161 runs while Warne, in his first Test back from suspension, took 5 for 116 from 42.4 overs. Warne, with 496 Test wickets, was leading the race with Muralitharan to 500 Test wickets. Australia batted out the six overs before lunch to be no wicket for 15 runs. Australia took the total to 91 before Langer (32) was dismissed. After erasing the deficit, Sri Lanka dismissed Ponting (28) at 2 for 175. Hayden then posted his 18th Test century before Australia ended the day at 2 for 192 with a lead of 31 runs.
Australia resumed on the fourth morning needing to occupy the crease until at least tea while setting a target the home side would be willing to chase. Sri Lanka by comparison needed wickets. Sri Lanka dismissed Hayden (130) mid way through the session, however, that was the only wicket to fall and by lunch, Australia was 3 for 331 with a lead of 150 runs. During the afternoon session, Martyn and Lehmann posted centuries as Australia took a firmer hold on the match. Once Martyn (110) and soon afterwards Lehmann (129) were out and with the score 5 for 480, the tourists looked for quick runs. With the score on 498, Symonds (24), Gilchrist (0) and Warne (0) were all dismissed. However, with time evaporating on the fourth day, Ponting, in his first Test as captain did not declare and seemed intent on donating quick wickets to Muralitharan's race with Warne to 500 wickets. Australia eventually declared at 8 for 512 with a more than adequate lead of 351 runs. Muralitharan was again the best of the bowlers with 5 for 153 off 56 overs, taking him to 496 wickets and level with Warne. Sri Lanka batted out the three remaining overs to end the day at 0 for 3. With only 90 overs to claim ten wickets, is there enough time for victory?
Sri Lanka began the final morning knowing that occupation of the crease was the only option to avoid a loss - runs were irrelevant with the target not realistically achievable. Unfortunately, Warne could see 500 Test wickets and after Kasprowicz dismissed Sangakkara (7) at 1 for 14, Warne then dismissed Atapattu (16) Dilshan (6) and Jayawardene (21) in three successive overs to leave Sri Lanka devastated at 4 for 56. Warne then had on 499 Test victims and MacGill then dismissed Jayasuriya (5) without another run being added. At lunch, Sri Lanka was 5 for 86 and seemingly without hope of saving the match without a weather intervention. Straight after lunch, MacGill bowled Samaraweera (15) and then Warne picked up Tillakaratne (25) at 7 for 119 to reach the 500 mark. After a period of stability for the home side, Chandana (43), Dharmasena (0) and Muralitharan (0) were dismissed for one run and Sri Lanka was all out for 154. Warne was the best of the bowlers with 5 for 43 off 15 overs while Australia claimed victory by 197 runs.
Second Test
Kandy
16 - 20 March 2004
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first on a green top pitch. After dropping Hayden when he had scored eleven runs, Sri Lanka then struck early to dismiss Langer (3) with the score 1 for 25. Then late in the session, Ponting (10), Martyn (1) and Lehmann (8) were all dismissed in the space of 13 runs as Australia crashed to 4 for 61 at lunch. After lunch, Sri Lanka continued to plough through the Australian batsmen by dismissing Symonds (6), Gilchrist (0), Hayden (54), Gillespie (8), Kasprowicz (0) and Warne (18) to have the tourists all out for 120. In dismissing Kasprowicz, Muralitharan claimed his 500th Test wicket and he (4 for 48 off 15 overs) and Zoysa (4 for 54 off 16 overs) shared the bowling honours. Sri Lanka began their reply by losing Jayasuriya (1) at 1 for 6. The home side then batted through to be 1 for 30 at tea. During the afternoon session, Sri Lanka also struggled with the pitch and lost Gunawardene (13), Atapattu (9) and Sangakkara (5) in the space of 15 runs to be 4 for 49. After Sri Lanka took the total to 67, Warne dismissed Jayawardene (17) and Dilshan (0) in consecutive deliveries to have Sri Lanka 6 for 67. Sri Lanka then batted through the remaining overs to end the day at 7 for 92 after losing Tillakaratne (16) in the second last over of the day.
Australia dismissed Zoysa (4) in the fourth over of the second morning and then Lokuarachchi (15) mid way through the session after Sri Lanka had overtaken the tourists first innings. However, the final pair then frustrated the Australians and created an advantage for Sri Lanka by taking the score to 211 before Muralitharan (43) was caught, leaving Vass not out on 68. Warne was again the best of the bowlers with 5 for 65 off 20.1 overs. Australia began the task of erasing the 91 run first innings deficit and batted through to lunch to be no wicket for 11. Sri Lanka struck with the first ball of the afternoon session to dismiss Hayden (5) and Langer (9) followed five overs later at 2 for 26. However, Gilchrist, promoted after Ponting injured his back while fielding, and Martyn then fought back and erased the deficit before going to tea at 2 for 104 and an eleven run lead. During the evening session, Gilchrist posted his 10th Test century by the time bad light stopped play with half an hour of play remaining, Australia had batted them selves into a position of strength at 2 for 221 with a lead of 130 runs.
Sri Lanka needed quick wickets on the third morning in order to get the best use of the pitch before it deteriorated while chasing the final innings victory target. They succeeded in dismissing Gilchrist (144) in the fourth over at 3 for 226 and later in the session Lehmann (21) was trapped in front with the score 4 for 255. However, Sri Lanka put down a chance when Martyn had scored 65 and by lunch, Australia had extended their lead to 208 runs with the score 4 for 299. During the evening session, Martyn posted his seventh Test century before Ponting (27) was dismissed at 5 for 304. When bad light and then torrential rain prevented any further play, Australia was 5 for 320 with a lead of 229 runs.
Sri Lanka had early success on the fourth morning and dismissed Symonds (23), Warne (6) Gillespie (11), Kasprowicz (8) and finally Martyn with a career best 161 runs to have Australia all out for 442 runs with MacGill not out on 17. Muralitharan was again the best of the bowlers with 5 for 173 off 50.3 overs. Sri Lanka began their final innings run chase for 352 runs and victory by facing one over before going to lunch at no wicket for 4. During the afternoon session, Sri Lanka lost Atapattu (8) and Gunawardene (9) early on to be 2 for 51. After rebuilding the innings, Sangakkara (29) was dismissed before Sri Lanka went to tea at 3 for 143. Victory was still possible for Sri Lanka, but with three batsmen in the pavilion, the pressure was increasing. Australia ramped up the pressure again during the afternoon session by dismissing Jayawardene (13) before Jayasuriya went on to post his eleventh Test century. However, Jayasuriya (131) later fell at 5 for 218 while Sri Lanka still needed another 144 runs. Tillakaratne (7) followed soon afterwards at 6 for 239 exposing Sri Lanka's tail as the match continued to slip away from the home side. Dilshan (43) then fell at 7 for 272 and Sri Lanka's hopes looked dashed. However, Vass and Zoysa managed to take to total to 7 for 301 at stumps and Sri Lanka then needed only 51 more runs to win if they could keep the three remaining wickets in hand.
Sri Lanka almost halved the remaining runs required before Vaas (45) was caught at 8 for 319. However, when Zoysa (0) fell for the additional of only one more run the match looked firmly in Australia's hands. Eventually, Lokuarachchi (16) was trapped in front and Sri Lanka was all out for 324, having lost their final five wickets for 89 runs. Australia claimed the match by 27 runs and the series while Warne was again the best of the bowlers with 5 for 90 off 21.1 overs.
Third Test
Colombo
24 - 28 March 2004
Australia won the toss for the third time in succession and elected to bat first, again. Sri Lanka suffered a major blow in the eight over when Zoysa tore a calf muscle effectively ending his bowling participation in this Test. However, in the following over, Langer (19) was out at 1 for 43. Hayden (25) followed at 2 for 60 before Australia steadied and batted through to be 2 for 96 at lunch. Sri Lanka struck again in the over after lunch and dismissed Martyn (14). Australia then took control for the rest of the session until Ponting (92) fell on the ball before tea when the score was 4 f0r 217. Early in the afternoon session, Sri Lanka dismissed Katich (14) at 5 for 244. However, Australia then continued to build their total until Gilchrist (22) was caught with thirty minutes of play remaining. By Stumps, Australia was 6 for 314 and set to push well past an imposing 350 run first innings.
Australia took the total to 376 on the second morning before Warne (32) was trapped in front by rival spinner Muralitharan. Four runs later Gillespie (0) fell, followed by Kasprowicz (4) and Lehmann (153), who had passed 150 for the third time in 18 Tests, to be all out for 401 runs at lunch. Muralitharan was the most successful bowler with 5 for 123 off 37.1 overs. After lunch, Sri Lanka began their reply in aggressive fashion and dominated the session. After scoring 134 runs in 27 overs, Jayasuriya (71) was caught shortly before the home side went to tea at 1 for 138. Thirty minutes after play resumed, Sangakkara (22) was also caught at 2 for 175 before Atapattu posted his twelfth Test century. After passed the follow on target, Sri Lanka finished the day at 2 for 239 and was well placed to erasing the tourist's first innings advantage.
Australia struck back hard on the third morning by dismissing Jayawardene (29) and Dilshan (0) with the third and fourth balls of the morning to have Sri Lanka 4 for 240. Atapattu (118) was bowled soon afterwards as Sri Lanka slumped to 5 for 256. Sri Lanka then rallied and batted through to be 5 for 308 at lunch. Australia constrained the scoring after lunch and dismissed Samaraweera (41) mid way thought the first hour of the afternoon session. Later in the session, Vass (24) fell shortly before Sri Lanka went to tea at 8 for 385, just 16 runs in arrears. Australia again went into overdrive after the break and dismissed Zoysa (3), Herath (3) and Muralitharan (8), but not before Sri Lanka posted the higher first innings score for the third consecutive Test with 407 runs. Tillakaratne (74*) was left stranded while Gillespie (3 for 96 off 23 overs) and Lehmann (3 for 50 off 19 overs) finally kept Warne out of the best bowling honours for the first time since his return to Test cricket. Australia quickly erased the deficit and began compiling a final innings victory target for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka dismissed Hayden (28) at 1 for 40 and then in the penultimate over, Ponting (20) was caught. Australia then reverted to the policy of sending in a nightwatchman and was quickly reminded of the arguments against such actions when Gillespie (1) was caught. At stumps, Australia was not looking so strong at 3 for 80, with an overall lead of 74 runs.
Sri Lanka needed to continued on the fourth morning in a similar vein to the previous evening to have any chance of recording a consolation win in the match. The home side made a good start by dismissing Martyn (5) and Lehmann (1)in consecutive overs to have Australia precariously placed at 5 for 98. However, the Australians then stabilized and Langer posted his 18th Test century. At lunch, Australia was 5 for 182 with an overall lead of 178 runs. Australia continued to fight through the afternoon session and kept Sri Lanka at bay despite the home side tightening the run scoring opportunities. Adding a further 85 runs in the session, Australia went to tea at 5 for 263 with a lead of 257 runs and seemingly moving toward an unassailable position. Australia took the score to 316 before Langer (166) was finally dismissed. When Katich (86) fell at 7 for 341, the Sri Lankan tempo picked up and Warne (0), Kasprowicz (3) and Williams (2) fell in the space of 34 runs to see Australia all out for 375. Gilchrist (31*) was the not out batsman while Herath was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 92 off 24.2 overs. Sri Lanka, needing an improbable 370 runs for victory, faced six overs before finishing the day at 0 for 18.
Australia spilled an easy catch on the final morning that cost them dearly in terms of the time available to dismiss Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka took the score to 45 before Atapattu (14) was bowled and then shortly before lunch, Jayasuriya (51) was caught to see Sri Lanka 2 for 99 at the break. Australia struggled to take the necessary wickets required during the afternoon session with only Samaraweera (53) and Jayawardene (37) falling as Sri Lanka made it through to be 4 for 186 at tea. Sri Lanka merely needed to survive the final two hours to stave off a series whitewash as all hope of an unlikely victory had evaporated. Australia dismissed Sangakkara (27), Dilshan (31), Tillakaratne (17) and Zoysa (1) to have Sri Lanka 8 for 247. With only four overs remaining, Sri Lanka looked safe. However, Australia dismissed Vass (9) with 16 balls remaining and then Herath (0) with eight balls remaining to win by 121 runs. Warne was the best of the bowlers with 4 for 92 off 33 overs.
