Aussies beat Lanka to stay unbeaten
Elmo Rodrigopulle
WORLD CUP: Australia the reigning champions beat Sri Lanka
comfortably by 7 wickets to maintain their unbeaten record in the
on-going World Cup tournament, here yesterday. Chasing 227 for victory,
the Australians made merry against a weakened Sri Lanka attack and just
cruised to victory.
After Adam Gilchrist 30 and Matthew Hayden 41 put on 76 for the first
wicket, Michael Clarke 23, skipper Ricky Ponting 66 not out and Andrew
Symonds 63 not out slaughtered the bowling to take them to victory.
The Australians made 232 for 3 in 42.4 overs. Sri Lanka made 226. The
Man of the Match was Nathan Bracken.
Grenadaland was bathed in sunshine when the two captains Mahela
Jayawardena and Ricky Ponting walked out to toss the coin. It was 8th
time lucky for Jayawardena as the coin turned his way and he had no
hesitation in batting. He had lost all seven previous tosses.
But what surprised everyone here was when they scrutinised the team
sheets to find the names of Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitheran
missing from the Lanka lineup.This was inexplicable, considering that
every game must be played with the best and with the last line being
winning.
But probably the Lankan management had their reasons for keeping Vaas
and Muralitheran out and not wanting the Aussies to have a look at them.
The Lankans are hoping to meet Australia in the final and so probably
the reasons for leaving the two out. And with Lasith Malinga too, being
rested, the Lankan attack was shorn off its three best bowlers. In came
Malinga Bandara and Nuwan Kulasekea.
Australia made one change bringing back Nathan Bracken for Stuart
Clarke. Sri Lanka lost three early wickets and with the board reading 27
for three, the Lankan batting fortress was under attack by the
Australians.
Sanath Jayasuriya was the first to go for 12 with the score on 26,
then followed Kumar Sangakkara for no score at 27 and Upul Tharanga
followed at the same score for 6. Sangakkara who failed to open his
account was unfortunate to be ruled out by umpire Aleem Dar, as
television replays showed the ball going well over the stumps.
Then came a face saving partnership for the 4th wicket between Mahela
Jayawardena and Chamara Silva who put on 140. Both batsmen had a good
look at the bowling and the pace of the wicket before launching out to
playing their natural strokes. Nathan Bracken and Glen McGrath caused
the early Lankan collapse.
Jayawardena once again played a captains knock. His 72 came in 88
balls with 5 fours and one six. This was his 4th World Cup one day 50.
Chamara Silva too made his 4th WC 50 and he made 64. His 50 came in 91
balls with 6 fours. The way Jaywardena and Silva were going it looked as
though the Lankans would make a challenging total and make the Aussies
stretch for victory.
But once Silva went at 167 and Jayawardena went at 174, Sri Lanka
lost 5 wickets for 17 runs and any ideas the Lankans had of building a
big total evaporated. But that they made 226 in 49.4 overs was due to
some lusty hitting by Farveez Maharoof who made 25 with 4 fours in 22
balls and Malinga Bandara 17 with two huge sixes in 19 balls.
In their partnership, Jayawardena and Silva played some lovely cover
drives, but what was eye-catching was their excellent running between
the wickets and their rotation of the strike.
The Aussie bowlers, especially left-armer Nathan Bracken was spot on
and he was unplayable at times. His figures of 4 for 19 speaks for
itself. Shaun Tait suffered at the hands of the Lankan batsmen and went
for 68 in 10. Glen McGrath had 2 for 48 and left-arm spinner Brad Hogg 2
for 35 in 10.
Grenada National Stadium, Monday |
