Lanka's sensible cricket downs Aussies
 

ELMO Rodrigopulle reporting from Australia

THE Sri Lankans playing the better and more sensible cricket brought the world champions Australia down to earth beating them by 23 runs in the first of three Victoria Bitter finals before a large and appreciative crowd under lights at the Adelaide Oval, here, today.

It was the blistering batting of Chamara Kapugedera and Tillakaratne Dilshan in the slog overs and the vulture like fielding by the Lankans led by Dilshan that had the Aussies on the skids which lured them to defeat.

Chasing 275 for victory and when Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich posted 51 in 10.1 overs without losing a wicket, the game looked set for an exciting finish.

But some horrendous running between the wickets by the experienced Aussies who made a mockery of this wonderful art, that brought them to their knees and had them crawling to defeat before the Lankans.

After Gilchrist who was dropped off a caught and bowled chance by Ruchira Perera left for 26 off 27 balls- well held by Arnold at square leg, there was the idiotic, that's how best the run outs of skipper Ricky Ponting 0, without facing a ball, Damien Martyn 1, Simon Katich 56, Michael Hussey 16 and Michael Clarke 80 could be described that left the Aussies bewildered.

In between they lost Andrew Symonds 16 - stumped by Sangakkara who was the man of the match, cleverly deceived by a doosra from Muralitharan who was again not spared by the Aussie spectators who kept teasing him.

Affecting the run outs was Dilshan who was simply marvelous on the field. Of the four run outs that he was involved in, the most amazing was when he threw down the wicket of Martyn collecting the ball on the run and followed by diving to pick the ball and execute the run out of Katich.

The Lankans kept their cool, did the simple things right and forced the Aussies into mistakes by putting them under pressure.

They showed that they are only human and can crumble under pressure as they did.

Atapattu who showed the way with a fine of 53 handled his men admirably and his field placings and bowling changes were intelligently thought out.

Of the Aussie batsmen only opener Simon Katich 56 off 81 balls with 6 fours and Michael Clarke who was the fifth run out victim with 80 in 83 balls with 4 fours were the only ones to make an impression.

Muralitheran bowled brilliantly to return figures of 3 for 40 in 10 overs while Nuwan Kulasekera who finally went 47, bowled economically in his early spell. Malinga Bandara who was the star in Hobart went for 51 for 1 in his 10.

It dawned a bit cloudy, but the sun came and the conditions were ideal when the captains Ricky Ponting and Marvan Atapattu walked out to toss. Atapattu who has been having luck with the toss won this important one too and took strike on a wicket that was made for big runs.

Sri Lanka dropped Jehan Mubarak and Dilhara Fernando and brought in Russel Arnold and Nuwan Kulasekera and as usual Malinga Bandara was the super-sub. James Hopes super-subbed for Australia.

Sanath Jayasuriya again started off briskly hitting a six over mid wicket and a four and when again looking good for a big score played too early and Brad Hogg took a good catch diving forward at mid wicket. He made 25 in 22 deliveries.

Atapattu was going quietly, but was in good touch continuing from where he left off at Hobart.

Together with the 'brains' in the batting Kumar Sangakkkara, he put on 65 in 87 balls before being bowled round his legs by Hogg. He drove and pushed the singles with competence and played a captain's innings.

He made 53 in 77 balls with 6 fours.

Sangakkara who was struggling in the early part of his innings continued to grow in confidence and was beginning to get on top of the attack when he hit a ball back to Andrew Symonds for 83 with 3 fours and a six in 106 balls. Together with Russel Arnold he put on a quick 67 in71 balls.

Mahela Jayawardena had another of his rare failures when he cannoned a ball to be caught and bowled by Stuart Clark for 11 in 20 balls.

Arnold who every time he walks out to strike must make a big score to retain his place, also batted well and although he failed to reach the ropes made a pleasing 24 in 34 balls. He lofted a full toss from Nathan Bracken to Andrew Symonds at mid off.

When Arnold went with the score on 200 in 41.6 overs and Sangakkara at 212 in 44.1 overs it looked as though the Lankans would be hard pressed to get to 250.

Then youngster Chamara Kapugedera joined the consistent Tillakaratne Dilshan and began to get stuck into the Aussie attack that was strangling the batting. Kapugedera and Dilshan showed that the attack held no terrors and taking it by the scruff of its neck began to bash it to the fence and over it with some arrogant stroke-play.

Dilshan who from the time he takes strike adds the urgency into the Lankan batting, provided the fireworks partnered by Kapugedera and they lashed the attack to add 58 in 31 balls.

It was an entertaining batting show that sent the Lankan spectators into raptures and made the bowling look village green. Kapugedera played a mature innings to make 38 in 21 balls with 3 towering sixes that cleared the ground.

He also sent the ball scorching to the fence on two occasions. Going for another big hit the he skied the ball to Symonds at mid on. Dilshan too showed his mastery with a late blast of 26 not out in 20 balls which contained two huge sixes.

The Lankans lost Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitheran cheaply. But what was encouraging was that they galloped to make 86 in the last 10.

It was a fantastic finish and about the best seen from the Lankans.

All the Australian bowlers went for big runs with Bracken conceding 61 for 3 from his 10 overs and Symonds 1 for 66 in his 10.

SRI LANKA 
M. Atapattu b Hogg                     	53
S. Jayasuriya c Hogg b Clark           	25
K. Sangakkara c and b Symonds           83
M. Jayawardene c and b Clark           	11
R. Arnold c Symonds b Bracken          	24
T. Dilshan not out                     	26
C. Kapugedara c Symonds b Bracken     	38
C. Vaas run out (Hussey)                 1
M. Muralitharan c Symonds b Bracken    	 0
N. Kulasekara not out                    0
Extras (lb4, nb2, w7)                   13
TOTAL (8 wkts, 50 overs)               	274
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-44, 2-109, 3-133, 
4-200, 5-212, 6-270, 7-272, 8-272
BOWLING: B. Lee 10-1-48-0 (1nb 1w), N. Bracken 10-0-61-3 (1nb 1w), 
Clark 10-1-48-2 (1w), Symonds 10-0-66-1 (3w), Hogg 10-0-47-1 (1w)
Did not bat R. Perera

AUSTRALIA 
A. Gilchrist c Arnold b Kulasekara      	26
S. Katich run out (Dilshan)             	56
R. Ponting run out (Dilshan)              	 0
D. Martyn run out (Dilshan)              	 1
A. Symonds stp Sangakkara b Muralitharan 	16
M. Clarke run out (Jayasuriya)          	80
M. Hussey run out (Dilshan)             	16
J. Hopes c Dilshan b Muralitharan        	 3
B. Hogg c Jayasuriya b Bandara            	 1
B. Lee b Muralitharan                   	19
N. Bracken not out                       	13
Extras (b2, lb12, w7)                    	21
TOTAL (all out, 49.1 overs)             	252
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-51, 2-52, 3-64, 4-94, 5-122, 
6-156, 7-165, 8-166, 9-213, 10-252
BOWLING: Vaas 10-0-60-0 (1w), Perera 7-0-28-0 (1w), 
Kulasekara 9-0-47-1 (1w), Muralitharan 10-0-40-3, 
Bandara 10-0-51-1, Dilshan 2-0-7-0, Jayasuriya 1.1-0-5-0
Man-of-the-match: K. Sangakkara (SRI)
Adelaide, Friday