Honours even on day one in Colombo

COLOMBO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka and Australia shared the spoils on the opening day of the third and final test with the tourists 235 for five on Friday when bad light stopped play.

A sedate knock of 81 off 207 balls by Shaun Marsh held the Australian innings together as they struggled for runs throughout the rain-interrupted day.

Michael Hussey was unbeaten on 63 with Brad Haddin 21 not out at the close.

Marsh’s lengthy innings was ended in the final session by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, who bowled him with a straight delivery.

Marsh figured in two useful partnerships of 79 with Ricky Ponting and 70 with Hussey.

The afternoon session was delayed by 40 minutes due to rain but it made no difference to the home bowlers, who managed to snare the key wickets of former captain Ponting for a well compiled 48 and current skipper Michael Clarke for six.

Both batsmen fell to poor shots chasing balls wide outside the off stump and edging catches behind the wicket to Prasanna Jayawardene.

Suranga Lakmal picked up Ponting’s wicket at 101-3 while debutant Shaminda Eranga took his second wicket of the innings when he dismissed Clarke.

Marsh, who made a century on debut in the drawn second test, anchored the innings and looked solid in defence and hit only the loose balls as he notched seven fours.

Australia lost an early wicket when Phil Hughes played onto a delivery from Lakmal and was dismissed without scoring in the second over.

Shane Watson became debutant Eranga’s maiden test victim when he chased a wide ball and hit it to backward point where Tillakaratne Dilshan held the catch. Watson scored eight as Australia lost their second wicket for just 22.

Australia lead the three-test series 1-0.

Scores: Australia 235-5

COLOMBO, Sept 16 (Reuters) - Scoreboard at the close on the first day of the third and final cricket test between Sri Lanka and Australia on Friday.

Australia first innings

S Watson c Dilshan b Eranga 8

P Hughes b Lakmal 0

S Marsh b Herath 81

R Ponting c P Jayawardene b Lakmal 48

M Clarke c P Jayawardene b Eranga 6

M Hussey not out 63

B Haddin not out 21

Extras: (lb-4, nb-3, w-1) 8

Total: (five wickets, 81.2 overs) 235

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-22, 3-101, 4-120, 5-190.

To bat: M Johnson, P Siddle, T Copeland, N Lyon.

Bowling: Welegedara 15-4-51-0, Lakmal 16.2-3-39-2 (nb-3), Eranga 18-5-52-2 (w-1), Herath 22-4-60-1, Dilshan 10-0-29-0