Bird takes 2 wickets as Sri Lanka makes 80-2 at lunch on day 1 of final test vs. Australia

By Stuart Condie

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SYDNEY, Australia — Australia paceman Jackson Bird took two wickets Thursday to help restrict Sri Lanka to 80-2 at lunch on day one of the third and final test.

Australia captain Michael Clarke’s decision to bowl at the Sydney Cricket Ground initially looked to have backfired as Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan guided Sri Lanka toward the interval before Bird had Dilshan caught behind for 34.

Bird had accounted for opener Dimuth Karunaratne (5) an hour earlier and almost snared Lahiru Thirimanne, as well, but a leg-before-wicket decision was overturned on appeal.

In his final test as Sri Lanka captain, Jayawardene was 30 not out and moved up to eighth place in test cricket’s all-time leading scorers list.

Bird had figures of 2-14 at the interval.

20:59ET 02-01-13