Michael Hussey hit a 14th Test century and debutant Shaun Marsh his maiden ton before rain halted Australia’s progress in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
The two left-handers put on 258 for the fourth wicket as the tourists moved to 411-7 in their first innings by stumps on the third day, a lead of 237 runs with three wickets in hand. Marsh made 141 and Hussey scored 142, his second big knock in the series after a match-winning 95 in the first Test in Galle last week. Just 40.3 overs were bowled in the day as heavy rain washed out play soon after lunch at the Pallekele International Stadium.
With more rain forecast over the remaining two days, Australian captain Michael Clarke may be forced to make an early declaration to bid for a series-clinching victory. Hussey and Marsh, who resumed at 264-3, stayed together till 10 minutes before lunch when Hussey holed out to the cover fence against part-time spinner Thilan Samaraweera. Their partnership was the highest ever against Sri Lanka for the fourth wicket, surpassing the 256 by Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly for India in Mumbai in 1997.
The pair had joined forces on Friday morning when Sri Lanka grabbed three quick wickets to reduce Australia to 116-3 in reply to their own 174. “It’s very surreal at the moment, a very proud day,” said a delighted Marsh. “I still can’t believe it. Just to be even playing Test cricket and to go there and get a hundred in my first innings. You dream of that sort of stuff. “There were a few nerves when I first went out there. I relaxed a little bit when I got off the mark, and today was pretty nerve-wracking. I just tried to forget what score I was on.”
Marsh had come into the Test side in place of former captain Ricky Ponting, who had to return home after Galle for the birth of his second child. The century will help the left-hander secure his place in the team even when Ponting returns for the third and final Test in Colombo from September 16. Former Australian opener Geoff Marsh applauded warmly from the stands as his 28-year-old son jumped in the air with a raised bat to celebrate the landmark.
“It was pretty emotional to be honest with you,” the younger Marsh said about scoring a Test hundred in front of his father. “I could see he was very happy. It was very emotional for him.” Marsh said he was not sure if Clarke will declare overnight or push for a lead of 270-280 quickly when play resumes. “The weather is not great at the moment, but we can’t worry about it,” he said. “We’ve just got to worry about what we can do, play some good cricket and get ourselves in a winning position.”
Both Marsh and Hussey reached their respective centuries in the same over from off-spinner Suraj Randiv 45 minutes after the start of play. Hussey, who was on 76 overnight to Marsh’s 87, outscored his partner and achieved his third hundred against Sri Lanka with an on-drive for two runs. Marsh moved to 98 by driving seamer Chanaka Welegedara through the covers for a four and then reached 100 by flicking Randiv to mid-wicket for two.
Australia, who were 378-4 at lunch, lost three wickets in the space of one run after resumption before the weather intervened.
Australia lead 1-0 in the series, their first in Sri Lanka since 2004, after winning the first Test by 125 runs.
