Australia chase 8 wickets to beat Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan batsman Dimuth Karunaratne dives to beat an Australian throw at the wicket in the first Test in Hobart on December 17, 2012. Australia were eight wickets and Sri Lanka a more improbable 328 runs away from victory after a see-saw fourth day.

HOBART, Australia- Australia were eight wickets and Sri Lanka a more improbable 328 runs away from victory in the first Hobart Test after a see-sawing fourth day.

Sri Lanka bowled out Australia for 278 with star spinner Rangana Herath taking five wickets, leaving them with 393 runs to win at tea. They went to stumps with a day to play on 65 for two.

Kumar Sangakkara and skipper Mahela Jayawardene dug in until close of play. Sangakkara’s 18 came off 88 balls and Jayawardene (5) took 25 balls to get off the mark.

The tourists will have to improve on Australia’s highest successful run chase at the Bellerive Oval of 369 against Pakistan in 1999.

Sri Lanka’s most successful run chase was 352 to beat South Africa by one wicket in Colombo in 2006.

Captain Michael Clarke added to Australia’s mounting injury woes when he tweaked his right hamstring and was forced to retire hurt on 57 after reeling off his fastest Test half-century.

Sri Lanka’s Chanaka Welegedara (L) flies into action as Australia’s Ed Cowan (C) and David Warner take more runs on the fourth day of the first Hobart Test on December 17, 2012. The home side looked to be travelling along nicely going to lunch at 146 for two before it all unravelled in the middle session as they went after quick runs for an apparent innings declaration.

Clarke’s setback followed paceman Ben Hilfenhaus’s side strain which has prevented him from bowling again in the Test, even though he did bat in the second innings.

Australia began well, snaring the key wicket of first-innings centurion Tillakaratne Dilshan cheaply for 11 in the 10th over.

Dilshan, who turned around his team’s faltering first innings with a knock of 147, was caught behind off Shane Watson‘s first delivery.

Clarke, fielding at slip with his movement limited by his sore hamstring, gave Sangakkara a life on three when he dropped him off spinner Nathan Lyon.

Mitchell Starc yorked opener Dimuth Karunaratne for 30, hitting off-stump in the 24th over to leave the tourists on 47 for two.

Australia had collapsed, losing the last eight wickets in their second innings for 146 after openers David Warner (68) and Ed Cowan (56) put on 132.

Left-arm spinner Herath captured five for 95 to lead the tourists’ counter-attack.

The home side had gone to lunch on a still-comfortable 146 for two before their innings unravelled in the middle session as they chased quick runs.

Shane Watson was out three overs after lunch, losing a stumping referral off Herath for five. He was soon followed by Phil Hughes, who chopped Shaminda Eranga onto his stumps for 16.

Chanaka Welegedara (3rd R) is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Australia’s Ed Cowan (L) on the fourth day of the first Hobart Test on December 17, 2012. Cowan was bowled off-stump by Welegedara for 56 shortly before lunch with one that cut back in.

Matthew Wade, up the order, hit 11 before he holed out to Nuwan Kulasekara at long on off Herath.

Clarke went after the runs and reached his fastest Test half-century off 43 balls. But he then called for the team physio and retired hurt.

The wickets kept tumbling and Peter Siddle was brilliantly snapped up by a diving Prasanna Jayawardene off Chanaka Welegedara for four.

Starc hit five before he was leg before wicket to Welegedara and the last able-bodied Australian player Nathan Lyon added 11.

Hilfenhaus, inconvenienced by a side strain, lasted eight balls before he became Herath’s fifth wicket when lbw for a duck.

The afternoon clatter of wickets was in sharp contrast to the extended morning session when Warner and Cowan were largely untroubled.

Warner turned on the fireworks to slog Herath for six over long-on and then cheekily switch-hit the left-arm spinner for four.

But in attempting to cut Herath he feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Jayawardene on 68.

Cowan was bowled off-stump by Welegedara for 56 with one that cut back in.