Sri Lanka turn tide in Brisbane

Sri Lanka has hit back hard with some gritty lower-order batting and four final session wickets to leave its tour match with Queensland in Brisbane delicately poised.

The tourists declared at 9-210 early in the last session on Friday before pace pair Farveez Maharoof (2-18) and Lasith Malinga (2-23) combined to have the Bulls 4-60 when bad light stopped play.

Andy Bichel (0) and No.3 Clinton Perren (19) will take up the fight against the buoyant visitors when play resumes on Saturday.

Skipper Jimmy Maher (4) was the first man out for the home team when he was trapped in front by the distinctive round-arm action of Malinga.

The explosive quick grabbed a second late in the day when he had Chris Simpson caught by Thilan Samaraweera for a duck.

In between the Malinga victims was a double strike to young fast-bowling all-rounder Maharoof, including the scalp of powerful Australian Test batsman Andrew Symonds.

Symonds, named in the Australian squad of 13 for the opening Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba, added a quick-fire 22 from just 20 deliveries before being caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardene.

Ryan Broad (12) was the other man to fall for the Bulls on a day when ball dominated bat.

Earlier, a dogged half-century from Jayawardene rescued Sri Lanka from disaster.

Jayawardene, 28, made an undefeated 50 from 130 deliveries on a track that offered the quick bowlers plenty of assistance.

The wicket-keeper batsman was watchful as he helped his team climb back from a disastrous 6-81.

Ashley Noffke snared three wickets in the opening session and the two to fall in the middle period of play to end with 5-36.

He had solid support from Test hopeful Mitchell Johnson (1-39) and comeback kid Michael Kasprowicz (1-26).

Opener and former skipper Marvan Atapattu did his best to hold things together with an impressive 48 from 69 balls, including nine boundaries, but was dismissed right on lunch.

Fresh from making 154 last weekend against the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI at Adelaide Oval, veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya was unable to replicate that form as he fell second ball for one, caught in the gully off the bowling of Noffke.

Michael Vandort (four), captain Mahela Jayawardene (0) Thilan Samaraweera (seven), and Chamara Silva (0) were all robbed of valuable batting time by the Queensland attack.

Spinner Malinga Bandara clubbed eight fours and a six in an enterprising 43 and will look to continue his strong start to the tour when he gets his chance with the ball on day two.

Queenland
J Maher lbw b Malinga 4
R Broad b Maharoof 12
C Perren not out 19
A Symonds c Jayawardene b Maharoof 22
C Simpson c Samaraweera b Malinga 0
A Bichel not out 0
Extras (lb 2, nb 1) 3
Total (4 wickets; 18.2 overs) 60
FOW:1-5, 2-26, 3-59, 4-60

Bowling
C Vaas 6 - 2 - 17 - 0
L Malinga 6.2 - 1 - 23 - 2
F Maharoof 6 - 2 - 18 - 2

Sri Lanka
M Atapattu c Noffke b Johnson 48
S Jayasuriya c Simpson b Noffke 1
M Vandort c Bichel b Noffke 4
M Jayawardene lbw b Noffke 0
T Samaraweera c Hartley b Kasprowicz 7
C Silva run out (Simpson) 0
P Jayawardene not out 58
F Maharoof c Simpson b Noffke 20
C Vaas c & b Noffke 13
M Bandara c Noffke b Kasprowicz 43
L Malinga not out 0
Extras (b4, lb8, nb4) 16
Total (9 wickets dec; 63.2 overs) 210
FOW:1-2, 2-12, 3-14, 4-41, 5-45, 6-81, 7-115, 8-139, 9-210

Bowling
M Johnson 13 - 3 - 39 - 1
A Noffke 14 - 3 - 36 - 5
M Kasprowicz 13.2 - 5 - 28 - 2
A Bichel 10 - 1 - 49 - 0
A Symonds 5 - 1 - 22 - 0
D Doran 7 - 1 - 21 - 0
C Simpson 1 - 0 - 3 - 0

Source