Skipper Michael Clarke hit 106 to become Australia’s highest Test run-scorer in a calendar year as his side surged to 6-332 at tea on day two of the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Australia hold an overall lead of 176 runs with four first-innings wickets in hand after resuming on 3-150 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 156 in sunny conditions.
Shane Watson (83) and Clarke shared a 194-run partnership which is a record for the fourth wicket in a MCG Test.
Clarke, who batted superbly despite suffering a hamstring strain in last week’s first Test win in Hobart, hit 14 boundaries off 187 deliveries.
It was Clarke’s fifth hundred of 2012 and the first time he’d reached three figures and not turned it into a double-century or better.
The 31-year-old Clarke lifted his tally for the year to a staggering 1595 runs at an average of 106.33, passing Ricky Ponting’s national record of 1544 set in 2005.
However the departure of Clarke, caught at third slip, was followed in the next over by Watson who hooked a ball from Dhammika Prasad (3-81) to deep mid-wicket at 5-313.
Watson walked off with his head bowed, having continued his poor conversion rate which now stands at 19 half-centuries and two hundreds. The allrounder hit eight fours and one six from 198 balls.
Australia’s middle-order collapse against an injury-depleted attack became 3-4 when wicketkeeper Matthew Wade (one) also hooked to the leg-side boundary off Prasad two overs later.
Mitchell Johnson is 11 not out and Mike Hussey is on seven at tea.
Sri Lanka had some bad luck with injuries but they also made things tough for themselves with some missed chances.
Stand-in wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara missed a difficult stumping chance off the bowling of luckless spinner Rangana Herath (0-64) when Clarke was on 54. Three deliveries later, Watson was dropped on 58 at slip by Mahela Jayawardene off Herath.
Clarke was also dropped on five and missed at first slip on 83, while Watson was dropped on five.
Opening bowler Chanaka Welegedara left the field with a right hamstring injury with two deliveries remaining in his 15th over during the pre-lunch session on day two.
Sri Lanka’s regular wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene suffered a fractured thumb while batting on day one.
Australia lead the three-match series one-nil.
