BSP-04 Australia grab four wickets as Sri Lanka’s Perera retires hurt

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ZCZC

BSP-04

CRICKET-AUS-SRI

Australia grab four wickets as Sri Lanka’s Perera retires hurt

CANBERRA, Feb 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka lost four wickets in a hostile
session against Australia Sunday that saw Dimuth Karunaratne complete a half-
century after being cleared of concussion and dazed teammate Kusal Perera
retire hurt.

Following an incident-packed morning on day three of the second Test in
Canberra, the visitors went to lunch at 215 for seven in reply to Australia’s
534 for five declared.

Dilruwan Perera was not out 10 with Niroshan Dickwella out for 25 on the
last ball before the break.

Sri Lanka resumed on a hot day at 123 for three on what appeared to be a
perfect batting track.

Australian skipper Tim Paine opted to hand the ball first up to Jhye
Richardson and Pat Cummins and they threw down plenty of bouncers.

Both Perera, who resumed on 11, and Dhananjaya de Silva, who was on one
overnight, took blows to the head in the opening two overs, but were fine to
continue.

Perera was then hit flush on the helmet ducking into a Richardson ball on
27.

The neck protector flew off and a Sri Lankan physio rushed to his aid. He
continued and added two more runs only to call the physio again four balls
later.

Once again he opted to bat on but after watching de Silva face another
three balls, he was clearly feeling the effects and was helped off the field.

Officials said he would remain at the ground to be monitored by Sri Lankan
medics.

Ironically, the courageous Karunaratne replaced him after being declared
fit again after being felled by a brutal bouncer on Saturday from Cummins.

He had laid prone on the ground for at least 10 minutes before being
stretchered off in a neck brace, but after a hospital check was cleared of
concussion and given the OK to resume his innings.

He returned on 46 and drove a delivery for four to bring up his 22nd Test
50 before being caught at gully by Kurtis Patterson off Mitchell Starc after
adding nine more.

The opener was out just three balls after de Silva bizarrely hit his own
wicket while attempting a pull shot off Starc. As his bat swung around it
took one of the bails off and he was gone for 25.

In the next over debutant Chamika Karunaratne also fell, without scoring,
getting a thick edge to a Nathan Lyon ball with Starc taking the catch at
slip.

With Dickwella out lbw to Marnus Labuschagne on the last ball before
lunch, Sri Lanka were 319 runs adrift and in deep trouble.

BSS/AFP/MSY/0914 hrs