commentry for overs 41-49.4
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We are into the home stretch now, folks. Tait gets another recall. Five men inside the circle. Pressure.
40.1 Tait to Dilshan, no run, full in the zone, he can only dig it out to Ponting at point
40.2 Tait to Dilshan, 2 runs, fullish outside off stump, Dilshan carves it out to deep cover of the back foot
40.3 Tait to Dilshan, no run, overpitched again, and this time he can only drive to the man at cover
40.4 Tait to Dilshan, 1 run, back of a length outside off stump, Dilshan drives off the back foot through point for one
40.5 Tait to Arnold, 1 run, fraction short and wide, Arnold nudges that in the air in the gap at gulley for one
40.6 Tait to Dilshan, OUT, banged in short outside off stump, Dilshan hooks, awfully mistimed, and the ball just bobs up for Hodge to pouch a dolly at square leg
TM Dilshan c Hodge b Tait 7 (13m 12b 0x4 0x6) SR: 58.33
The move from Ponting to go back to Tait has worked for Australia, who've swung this match back their way. Sri Lanka dont have any big hitters of the cricket ball to come, critically. Here's Maharoof now.
End of over 41 (4 runs) - Sri Lanka 178/6 (RR: 4.34)
SW Tait 8-0-61-1
RP Arnold 1* (3b) GB Hogg 10-0-35-2
41.1 Clarke to Maharoof, no run, tossed up on off stump, defended down the track
41.2 Clarke to Maharoof, 1 run, tossed up again, lunged at and the inside-edge gets him a quick single to midwicket
41.3 Clarke to Arnold, no run, tossed up on off stump, Arnold turns it to square leg
41.4 Clarke to Arnold, no run, tossed up again, now he drives back down the track to Clarke
41.5 Clarke to Arnold, no run, well bowled, tossed up and again he just turns it to the on side
41.6 Clarke to Arnold, 1 run, quicker one outside off stump, pushed to point for a risky single
End of over 42 (2 runs) - Sri Lanka 180/6 (RR: 4.28)
RP Arnold 2* (7b) MJ Clarke 7-0-28-0
MF Maharoof 1* (2b) SW Tait 8-0-61-1
42.1 Tait to Arnold, no run, short of a length over the top of off, he plays at it and the ball dies before Gilchrist
42.2 Tait to Arnold, 1 run, back of a length this time, and now he pushes it softly to mid-off for one
42.3 Tait to Maharoof, 1 wide, too full down leg stump, the yorker going wrong
42.3 Tait to Maharoof, 1 run, very well bowled this time, yorker on leg stump, he jams the bat down and manages an inside-edge to leg
42.4 Tait to Arnold, OUT, bowled 'em with another short one! Quick, too bouncy for Arnold, who stands rooted and gets cramped on the swipe, all tangled up, and the result is an inside-edge back onto the stumps
RP Arnold b Tait 3 (15m 10b 0x4 0x6) SR: 30.00
Tait working up good pace as usual, and paying off dividends for his side at the death. Ponting loves it.
42.5 Tait to Kulasekara, no run, full on leg stump, cant put it away
42.6 Tait to Kulasekara, 1 run, strays to leg stump, and Kulasekara turns it off the pads for one out to the man on the ropes
End of over 43 (4 runs) - Sri Lanka 184/7 (RR: 4.27)
KMDN Kulasekara 1* (2b) SW Tait 9-0-65-2
MF Maharoof 2* (3b) MJ Clarke 7-0-28-0
Bracken's back. Gilchrist stands up again
43.1 Bracken to Kulasekara, no run, beaten by one angled across the stumps, excellent length and carry again for him
43.2 Bracken to Kulasekara, no run, and again, kicks off and seams past the bat off that superb length again
43.3 Bracken to Kulasekara, OUT, edged and gone! Bracken maintains his probing, moving line outside off stump, shaping one across Kulasekara to drive on the up, and the thick edge is snapped up very well by Hayden at a deep lone slip, down near his ankles, his second beauty of the day
KMDN Kulasekara c Hayden b Bracken 1 (5m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 20.00
43.4 Bracken to Bandara, no run, oh ho ho, beats him too with one pushed across the stumps
A second slip comes in now from midwicket
43.5 Bracken to Bandara, no run, fuller on off stump, he gets over it and pushes to cover
43.6 Bracken to Bandara, no run, full and wide again, moving across the stumps, and this time he leaves it be
Excellent over from Bracken on return again
End of over 44 (wicket maiden) - Sri Lanka 184/8 (RR: 4.18)
CM Bandara 0* (3b) NW Bracken 8-3-9-3
MF Maharoof 2* (3b) SW Tait 9-0-65-2
44.1 Tait to Maharoof, no run, bounces him over the top of off stump, Maharoof arches the back to get out of harm's way, the ball brushes the shirt and Gilchrist appeals
44.2 Tait to Maharoof, 1 run, short of a length outside off stump, he stands rooted and opens the face of the bat to run it down to third man, well played
44.3 Tait to Bandara, no run, good ball on a much fuller length, middle and offish, defended to midwicket
44.4 Tait to Bandara, 2 runs, overpitched looking for another yorker, Bandara drives very neatly to Symonds moving around at mid-off
44.5 Tait to Bandara, no run, bounces him again with one over off stump, Bandara sways out of the way like an accomplished batsman
44.6 Tait to Bandara, no run, fuller this time on off stump, well played out to cover
End of over 45 (3 runs) - Sri Lanka 187/8 (RR: 4.15)
CM Bandara 2* (7b) SW Tait 10-0-68-2
MF Maharoof 3* (5b) NW Bracken 8-3-9-3
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45.1 Bracken to Maharoof, no run, full outside off stump, driven off the front foot to point
45.2 Bracken to Maharoof, 1 run, full outside off stump, driven loosely into the covers for a quick single
45.3 Bracken to Bandara, no run, full, moving gently past the bat as Bandara chases it, Gilchrist whips off the bails
45.4 Bracken to Bandara, 1 run, fraction shorter and wider, Bandara reaches for it and punches into the covers for one
45.5 Bracken to Maharoof, no run, good length, moving past Maharoof who stands leaden-footed and misses it
45.6 Bracken to Maharoof, no run, fullish length, Maharoof drives to short cover, no chance of a run
End of over 46 (2 runs) - Sri Lanka 189/8 (RR: 4.10)
MF Maharoof 4* (9b) NW Bracken 9-3-11-3
CM Bandara 3* (9b) SW Tait 10-0-68-2
McGrath comes back for the finish
46.1 McGrath to Bandara, no run, back of a length outside off stump, he whirls a cut but fails to beat Clarke at backward point
46.2 McGrath to Bandara, no run, full outside off stump, driven right to Symonds at mid-off
46.3 McGrath to Bandara, SIX, hello, baby! McGrath opts to rattle him with a long-hop outside off stump, but Bandara, cool as a pickle, stands and slams it over midwicket for half a dozen
46.4 McGrath to Bandara, no run, overpitched outside off stump, and he square-drives to Clarke
46.5 McGrath to Bandara, 1 run, yorker on about leg stump, pushed to mid-on
46.6 McGrath to Maharoof, 1 run, another yorker going down leg stump and now Maharoof has work to do, fast, and he doesnt do it badly either
End of over 47 (8 runs) - Sri Lanka 197/8 (RR: 4.19)
MF Maharoof 5* (10b) GD McGrath 8-1-36-1
CM Bandara 10* (14b 1x6) NW Bracken 9-3-11-3
Clarke back on
47.1 Clarke to Maharoof, 1 run, tossed up outside off stump, pushed to mid-off
47.2 Clarke to Bandara, no run, flatter, pushed to cover
47.3 Clarke to Bandara, SIX, comes out, using the feet well, and connecting well for his second six, this time swung away over wide long-on
47.4 Clarke to Bandara, 1 leg bye, quicker, flatter, spinning down leg stump, Bandara sweeps, misses, and scampers a leg bye to the off side
47.5 Clarke to Maharoof, no run, tossed up on a length, he makes room to cut but ends up hitting into the ground
47.6 Clarke to Maharoof, 1 run, tossed up, uses the feet to drive into the covers
End of over 48 (9 runs) - Sri Lanka 206/8 (RR: 4.29)
MF Maharoof 7* (13b) MJ Clarke 8-0-36-0
CM Bandara 16* (17b 2x6) GD McGrath 8-1-36-1
Just 12 deliveries remain. McGrath continues.
48.1 McGrath to Maharoof, FOUR, right up there, full on middle and leg, and Maharoof times a perfect drive back down the ground for four
48.2 McGrath to Maharoof, 1 no ball, oversteps, bowls it outside off, just, and Maharoof heaves and misses
48.2 McGrath to Maharoof, FOUR, full outside off stump, he swings again and this time gets a genuine french cut and with fine leg up, thats four all the way...McGrath isnt happy at all
48.3 McGrath to Maharoof, 1 run, overpitched on off stump, now he gets down and swings it away through midwicket out to the sweeper for one
48.4 McGrath to Bandara, 1 run, well bowled, yorker on off stump, Bandara backs away and just manages to get bat on it, chopping to point for the single
48.5 McGrath to Maharoof, 1 run, full toss, which is swung out past Hogg at midwicket for one more
48.6 McGrath to Bandara, OUT, he ends his spell with another, banging in a long-hop, Bandara pulls and can only balloon it up to Hogg at midwicket for a comfortable take
CM Bandara c Hogg b McGrath 17 (23m 19b 0x4 2x6) SR: 89.47
End of over 49 (12 runs) - Sri Lanka 218/9 (RR: 4.44)
GD McGrath 9-1-48-2
MF Maharoof 17* (18b 2x4) MJ Clarke 8-0-36-0
Last six balls coming up. Bracken to bowl out.
49.1 Bracken to Maharoof, FOUR, up there, Maharoof has a free hit and connects well, slamming it down to long-off
49.2 Bracken to Maharoof, no run, beaten this time, just standing and swinging across the line
McGrath comes to short fine leg
49.3 Bracken to Maharoof, FOUR, edged away for four, Maharoof thrashes at it, and the ball flies wide of Hayden at slip, good runs these for Sri Lanka
49.4 Bracken to Maharoof, OUT, all over, Bracken finishes the innings with a slower one that Maharoof just chips in the air down to Symonds at long-on
MF Maharoof c Symonds b Bracken 25 (40m 22b 4x4 0x6) SR: 113.63
Australia fight back well to keep Sri Lanka down to 226 inside 50 overs, nipping out seven wickets for 69 runs at the end. They do come hard at you, these Australians. Jayawardene and Silva forged a 140-run fourth-wicket stand to lift Sri Lanka, but Australia will fancy themselves to chase down 227 with an attack missing Vaas, Malinga and Murali. Do join me in about 40 minutes - 13:40 local, 17:40 GMT - for the second innings.