Cameron Green has played another key innings for Australia as they look to build a first innings lead against Sri Lanka – but was again dismissed before reaching triple figures on day two of the first Test.
That elusive maiden test ton continues to evade the young all-rounder, as he was trapped LBW on 77 to spinner Ramesh Mendis.
The 23-year-old quickly reviewed the decision, but the video review system couldn’t save him.
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It’s now the fifth time in his young Test career that Green has been dismissed with a century in sight.
He was caught for 84 against India at the SCG at the start of last year, before consecutive scores of 74 in Sydney and Hobart in The Ashes at the start of this year, and was bowled for 79 in Lahore against Pakistan.
The common denominator in all of these cases was how important a knock they turned out to be. Aside from that first instance against India, all of these turned out to be key contributions – including in Galle, with Australia reeling at 4-100 when Green came to the crease.
The Bulls combination of Green and Khawaja steered Australia past 150, before the latter was dismissed for 71. Valuable knocks from Alex Carey and Pat Cummins followed, the skipper hitting one of the biggest sixes you’ll ever see in Test cricket.
Fans were left bemused when, immediately following that shot, play was stopped for bad light.
Australia left the field with at 8-313, with a lead of 101 runs after two days’ of play. We’re likely to see more swashbuckling from Cummins and Nathan Lyon on day three, before Sri Lanka will bat again to try and save the Test.
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