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By Julian Linden
HOBART, Australia, Nov 17 - Adam Gilchrist became
the first player to smash a 100 sixes in test cricket in a
brutal display of power hitting that put Australia in control
of the second test against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Gilchrist clubbed three massive sixes, including two in
succession off Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, to
blaze his way to an unbeaten 67 and enable Australia to declare
their first innings closed at 542 for five.
Sri Lanka were 30-0 in reply when bad light stopped play
early at Bellerive Oval with Marvan Atapattu unbeaten on 18 and
Michael Vandort on 12.
The openers had no hesitation in accepting an offer to go
off early after surviving a hostile 12-over spell from
Australia's pacemen but will need a strong batting performance
on Sunday to avoid another heavy loss following their innings
defeat in last week's first test in Brisbane.
Sri Lanka captured the wickets of Mike Hussey and Michael
Clarke after lunch but were unable to put a halt on Australia's
relentless run feast as Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds went on
the rampage.
Hussey departed for 132 when he was trapped leg before
wicket by Dilhara Fernando then Clarke fell for 71 when he was
caught by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene off Lasith Malinga.
LITTLE ASSISTANCE
Hussey and Clarke had added 125 for the fourth wicket but
their dismissals did little to help Sri Lanka's cause as
Gilchrist and Symonds made the most of a flat batting pitch
that offered little assistance to the bowlers.
Gilchrist signalled his intentions when he smacked Malinga
over the mid-wicket fence for his first six before tea but
saved his best for Muralitharan, who needs just six more
wickets to break Shane Warne's world record of 708 test
dismissals but is now unlikely to achieve the feat in
Australia.
Gilchrist's second six off Muralitharan sailed over the
Bellerive Oval gates and into a nearby street, forcing the
umpires to call for a replacement ball.
Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled against the Australian
batsmen and had to cope without paceman Farveez Maharoof, who
suffered a stress fracture in his foot on the opening day.
Hussey also smashed Muralitharan for six before lunch to
bring up his 100 partnership with Clarke before the pair fell
in quick succession after the first break, allowing Gilchrist
and Symonds to chase quick runs and set up the declaration.
Gilchrist's 67 off just 77 balls while Symonds finished
with an unbeaten 50, his second off the series, from 71
deliveries.
(Editing by John O'Brien)