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Aussies win series 3-2:
Lanka in consolation victory
Ranjan ANANDAPPA at R.Premadasa Stadium
After a sensational spell of fast bowling by Lasith Malinga who took
his third one day hat-rick, Mahela Jayawardena and Chamara Silva put the
Lankans in line for a consolation win in their fifth and final One day
International at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
Sri Lanka were made to chase a target for the first time in the
series and were successful in their attempt in pursuit of a moderate 212
losing 6 wickets in the process. Jayawardena and Chamara Silva saved Sri
Lanka from another precarious situation after the host lost three
wickets for 33 runs in 5.3 overs. Sri Lanka lost consistent opener Upul
Tharanga, Kumara Sangakkara and Tillekeratne Dilshan in quick succession
as the Australian pace attack sans Brett Lee and Doug Bollinger cut
through the crust of the Sri Lankan batting.
Left armer Johnson accounted for Tharanga while James Pattinson
playing for the first time got the wickets of Sangakkara and Dilshan.
Pattinson and Hasting formed an effective combination and along with
Johnson created uncertainty in the Sri Lanka batting. But Experienced
Jayawardena and Silva stood firm and dispelled any doubt in the Sri
Lankan batting. Mahela struck a patient 71 off 119 deliveries striking
six fours.
Chamara Silva joined by Mahela Jayawardena dug themselves in to
produce an useful 111 partnership for the third wicket. Chamara Silva
needing a good score to prove his worth in the side after a string of
failures 4,3,13,9,0 in his previous ODI’s finally struck a valiant 63
while Mahela Jayawardena grafted away the runs. If ever their was an
opportunity for Chamara Silva to prove himself as an useful member of
the side this was surely an opportunity not to be missed. He was
immediately tested to the full by the Aussie bowlers, with Mahela he
withstood everything that the bowlers could produce and looked sounder
than any of the previous batsman.
Earlier, Malinga blasted through the Australian middle order when the
batting power play was taken at 182 for 5 when Brad Haddin and Michael
Hussy was in control of the situation. Ajantha Mendis bowled DAVID Hussy
for 46 off 49 deliveries with five fours and a six. With David Hussy’s
dismissal at 210, Malinga got his act together when he dismissed left
hander Mitchelle Johnson when he could not clamp down on a yorker and
was bowled the same fate to James Hastings who was lbw and bowled Xavier
Doherty.
Lasith Malinga became the only bowler to take three hat-tricks in
ODI’s’, previously in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies against
South Africa taking four wicket in four balls and then early this year
another hat-trick against Kenya at this same venue.
Malinga’s bowling effort reduced Australia from 210 for 6 to 211 all
out in 46.1 overs. Sri Lanka captain Tillekeratne Dilshan won the toss
and this time invited Michael Clarke to bat first. Shaminda Eranda
opened the attack with Lasith Malinga and Eranda. In his first over,
Eranda bowled Marsh through the gate. Ponting joined by Watson steadied
the Australian ship with some sensible batting. Ponting and Watson added
67 runs for the second wicket and was just gathering momentum when
Ponting tried to force one off Angelo Mathews only to see substitute
fielder Suraj Randive at short mid wicket diving forward and taking the
catch. Sri Lankan bowlers had the Australian batting in a bit of a tight
string as no one really settled down to play a big Innings. Skipper
Michael Clarke scored 47 but his concentration lapsed when he was beaten
outside the off stump off a good ball from Eranga and Sangakkara took
the catch.
Thereafter, Malinga’s sensational spell restricted Australia to 211
in 46.1 overs and Ajantha Mendis finished the Aussie innings when Haddin
was caught by Jayawardena.
Australia
S. Watson c Tharanga b A. Mendis 56
S. Marsh b Eranga 2
R. Ponting c sub (Randiv) b Mathews 31
M. Clarke c Sangakkara b Eranga 47
M. Hussey c Sangakkara b Prasanna 6
D. Hussey b A. Mendis 46
B. Haddin c Jayawardene b A. Mendis 8
M. Johnson b Malinga 1
J. Hastings lbw b Malinga 0
X. Doherty b Malinga 0
J. Pattinson not out 0
Extras (b2, lb2, nb2, w8) 14
TOTAL (for all out; 46.1 overs) 211
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-4 (Marsh), 2-71 (Ponting), 3-127 (Watson), 4-146 (M. Hussey),
5-167 (Clarke), 6-210 (D. Hussey), 7-211 (Johnson), 8-211 (Hastings), 9-211 (Doherty), 10-211 (Haddin).
BOWLING: Malinga 8-2-35-3 (nb2, w2), Eranga 8-2-45-2 (w5), Prasanna 10-1-37-1,
Mathews 3-0-6-1, J. Mendis 8-0-35-0, A. Mendis 9.1-0-49-3 (w1).
Sri Lanka
U. Tharanga b Haddin b Johnson 0
T. Dilshan b Pattinson 17
K. Sangakkara c Haddin b Pattinson 7
M. Jayawardene c D. Hussey b Doherty 71
C. Silva c Hastings b Doherty 63
A. Mathews c Doherty b Watson 26
J. Mendis not out 7
S. Eranga not out 0
Extras (lb7, w15) 22
TOTAL (for six wickets; 47 overs) 213
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-4 (Tharanga), 2-12 (Sangakkara), 3-33 (Dilshan), 4-144 (Silva), 5-195 (Jayawardene), 6-209 (Mathews).
BOWLING: Johnson 10-0-45-1 (w4), Pattinson 10-1-41-2 (w1), Doherty 10-0-54-2,
Hastings 10-0-28-0 (w8), Watson 6-0-33-1 (w2), D. Hussey 1-0-5-0. |
