This one's for Hooksey - Boof

[Donny]

This one's for Hooksey

By Malcolm Conn in Galle

DARREN LEHMANN shed a tear and dedicated his Test hundred to David Hookes as Australia turned the first Test against Sri Lanka on its head.

The skilful left-hander overcame a five-month injury absence and the death of his mentor to combine with fellow century-maker Damien Martyn in a double-century partnership that has left Australia in a commanding position.

When he brought up three figures an emotional Lehmann removed his helmet, hugged Martyn in a tearful embrace, and looked to the heavens.

"I didn't think he was going to let go," Martyn said later.

Sri Lanka will resume this morning on 0-3, still needing a further 349 for victory after Ricky Ponting declared late yesterday at 8-512.

Lehmann, who made 129, said he thinks of Hookes every day and did so again as he approached his fourth hundred in just 11 Test innings.

"He would have been proud of it," Lehmann said. "It's good to get back and make some runs. I've just got to move on and hopefully make some more."

Enterprising and innovative, Lehmann batted for four and a half fours, faced 214 balls, hitting 16 fours and a six.

Martyn's 110 was patient and mature. He batted for five and a half hours, faced 250 balls and hit 10 fours. His last Test ton was in February, 2002.

"I wanted to take the responsibility of batting at No.4," Martyn said.

"When you get your hundred it's a relief. I haven't got too many in my career."

Only once have Sri Lanka managed to make more than 142 batting last to win in their own country.

That occasion was six years ago when they made 5-326 against Zimbabwe, the highest score made by any side batting last in Sri Lanka.

The only fourth innings score of substance made at Galle in the ground's 10-Test history is the 9-210 England managed to draw here three months ago.

Once Martyn and Lehmann were dismissed, loose-limbed off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed a flurry of late wickets to finish with 5-153.

He and Shane Warne now have 496 wickets each but Warne is likely to win the race to 500 when he bowls again today on a slow wicket that has held up remarkably well.

Warne delivered the first over of the second innings, with opening bowler Michael Kasprowicz still struggling to overcome a strained shoulder that may prevent him from bowling today.

Martyn and Lehmann came together when Matthew Hayden, exhausted from his brave century the previous day, was out for 130, caught off the toe of the bat at slip sweeping.

The pair added 206 in four hours, a third-wicket record for Australia against Sri Lanka. It beat the 163 Allan Border and Mark Taylor added in Hobart 14 years ago.

So draining were the hot conditions that during the middle drinks break the pair sat together in the middle of the ground with towels draped around their necks as reserve paceman Brad Williams stood over them with an umbrella to keep the sun off. In the last drinks break a chair was also brought out for Lehmann.

Under increasing pressure to convert good starts into big scores, Martyn repaid the faith of his captain Ponting and the selectors, who stuck stedfastly with him during an increasingly frustrating and unproductive summer.

His predicament was highlighted going into this match when Simon Katich, who scored a ton in his last Test and another in last week's tour match, was left out to play debutant Andrew Symonds because of his off-spin.

Top scorer with 63 in Australia's disappointing first innings, Lehmann again highlighted his experience and subtlety against the turning ball but eventually skied a slog to be caught and bowled by Murali.

[Donny]

After this Test, Lehmann's batting average has risen to 53.95 with an aggregate of 1187 from his 16 Tests.

His 4 centuries have come in his last 5 Tests. He has also scored 5 fifties.