Resoute Sri Lankan batting and bad weather frustrated Australias bid for a series-clinching win as the second Test ended in a draw in Pallekele on Monday. Just 35.3 overs were bowled on the final day,in which Sri Lanka moved from their overnight score of 223/2 to 317/6 in the second innings,an overall lead of 80 with four wickets in hand. Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 11 and Suraj Randiv was on four when play was halted midway through the post-lunch session. The match was finally called off two hours before the scheduled close. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after their 125-run win in the first Test in Galle,with the final Test starting at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Friday. Sri Lanka,who trailed by 14 runs at the start of the day,lost both their overnight batsmen,Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene,within the first hour. Sangakkara failed to add to his overnight score of 69 when he was squared up by a lifting delivery from Harris and edged a waist-high catch to Clarke at second slip. The dismissal broke a threatening 101-run stand for the third wicket between Sri Lankas main batting hopes. Clarke then dived to his left to snap a stunning low catch in the slips and send back Jayawardene for 51 off the bowling off Copeland. Jayawardene stood his ground as the umpires debated whether the ball had touched the ground before landing in Clarkes hand,but replays confirmed it was a clean catch. Sri Lanka were 288/4,a lead of 51 runs,when a sharp shower drove the players back to the pavilion and the umpires ordered lunch 30 minutes early. When play resumed,Australia grabbed two wickets in the space of six runs to reduce Sri Lanka to 307 Scoreboard Sri Lanka (1st Innings): 174 Australia (1st Innings): 411/7 decl. Sri Lanka (2nd Innings): T Paranavitana c Haddin b Hussey 55,T Dilshan c Watson b Harris 36,K Sangakkara c Clarke b Harris 69,M Jayawardene c Clarke b Copeland 51,T Samaraweera c Haddin b Watson 43,P Jayawardene c Haddin b Harris 21,A Mathews not out11,S Randiv not out 4,Extras: (b-6,lb-20,nb-1) 27; Total (for 6 wkts,114.3 overs) 317 Fall of wickets: 1-81,2-128,3-229,4-270,5-301,6-307 Bowling: Harris 22-8-54-3,Copeland 27-10-63-1,Johnson 23.3-4-61-0,Watson 20-9-43-1,Lyon 15-1-52-0,Hussey 4-2-2-1,Clarke 3-0-16-0.
