Cricket: Border hits century

Australia 287-8

Sri Lanka

ALLAN BORDER scored his first Test century for four years to lead Australia out of trouble in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Moratuwa yesterday.

Border's 106 in 217 minutes included 16 fours and he also shared a crucial 127 partnership with Greg Matthews, reviving an Australian innings which had been reduced to 58 for 5 on the first morning following Border's decision to bat. By the close, Australia had recovered to 287 for 8 with their wicketkeeper, Ian Healy, unbeaten on 43.

Border, whose last Test century was four years ago this month in Pakistan, joined the former captain, Greg Chappell, as Australia's second-highest century-maker with 24, five behind the legendary Donald Bradman.

Champaka Ramanayake's figures of 4 for 59 were his best in Test cricket. He sparked the early collapse when he bowled Tom Moody with the fourth ball of the day. Australia lead the three-match Test series 1-0.

AUSTRALIA - First Innings

M A Taylor c Ranatunga b Anurasiri 19

T M Moody b Ramanayake 0

D C Boon c de Silva b Ramanayake 18

D M Jones lbw Liyanage 11

M E Waugh b Ramanayake 0

*A R Border b Ramanayake 106

G R J Matthews run out 57

S K Warne not out 1

I A Healy not out 43

C J McDermott c Tillekeratne b Hathurusinghe 10

Extras (b3 lb8 nb9 w2) 22

Total (for 8) 287

To bat: A I C Dodemaide.

Fall: 1-0 2-42 3-46 4-57 5-58 6-185 7-252 8-283.

Bowling: Ramanayake 20-1-59-4; Liyanage 17-0-54- 1; Hathurusinghe 15-7-31-1; Anurasiri 20-1-56-1; Muralitharan 12-2-52-0; Jayasuriya 2-0-9-0; Gurusinha 3-0-15-0.

Umpires: K T Francis and B C Cooray.