Match abandoned owing to rain:
Sri Lankans go to Hobart leading the series
Mitchell Starc hits maiden one day fifty:
[Elmo Rodrigopulle – Reporting from Australia]
The fourth game in the five match Commonwealth Bank series at the
Sydney Cricket Ground was abandoned when the rain came down making no
further play possible with Sri Lanka on 14 for no wicket in 3.2 overs.
Australia had made 222 for 9 in their 50 overs.
When the game was abandoned Mahela Jayawardene was on 5 and
Tillekeratne Dilshan on 9. The rains ceased, but the ground had taken a
lot of water and although the covers were removed from the wicket, play
was not possible, although the ground staff ran the super sopper in an
endeavour to get the game started.
No play possible
But with no likelihood of play the captains Mahela Jayawardene and
Michael Clarke in agreement with umpires Marrias Eramus and Paul Reiffel
agreed to abandon the game.
Had the rains not intervened the game was poised for an interesting
finish. The Sri Lankans now go to Hobart for the final game on Wednesday
with their 2 - 1 lead intact.
Sri Lanka beat Australia by 4 wickets in the third game in Brisbane
to take a 2 - 1 lead in the five match series tinkered with their
winning combination dropping Upul Tharanga and Shamindra Eranga.
Chandimal included
They included Dinesh Chandimal who had recovered sufficiently from
his hamstring strain and gloved him and also gave spinner Rangana Herath
his first game in the series. Australia went in unchanged.
Thanks to a fighting unbeaten 52 from the tall bowling left hand
batsman Mitchell Starc with 7 fours in just 36 balls and who was
associated in an unbroken 40 run stand with Xavier Doherty 10 not for
the last wicket took Australia to 222 for 9 in 50 overs.
When the ninth wicket, that of Clint McKay fell at 182, it looked as
though the Australians would. not get to 200. But like the pair did in
Brisbane where they added 34 to take the team past the lowest score of
70, they performed a similar act here to add respectability to the
total.
Clouting boundaries
Starc was in his elements clouting boundaries . He has the makings of
being an asset coming low down the order. He sees the ball early and
hits powerfully as he showed in making his maiden half century in one
day internationals. The crowd rose to him and Doherty as thy left the
field at the end of the allotted overs. There was a colourful crowd and
it looked as though every Sri Lankan living in Sydney had turned up to
cheer Sri Lanka to another victory.
Skipper Michael Clarke won the toss again and decided to bat saying
that the Aussies do well when batting first. But Nuwan Kulasekera
stunned them when he had Philip Hughes taken behind by Dinesh Chandimal
for 1 with the total on 4.
Plucky innings
But opener David Warner played a plucky innings of 60 with his 50
coming in 59 balls with 7 fours.
When he seemed set for a big score he was given out LBW by umpire
Maria's Erasmus to Thisara Perera off the bat. He showed his disgust
when given out.
Another to suffer a similar fate was Moises Henriques when given out
this time by umpire Paul Riffel for 3 off Rangana Herath. Herath's wink
said it all. It was two bad decisions that stalled the Aussie push.
Of the other batsmen Michael Clarke made 30 and Mathew Wade 31. The
Sri Lankan bowlers used the conditions well, with Nuwan Kulasekera again
among the wickets with 3 for 30 supported by Lasith Malinga. 2 for 33,
Rangana Herath 2 for 37 and Thisara 2 for 64 wickets each.
Memorial service
A memorial service was held at the Members Stand of the Sydney
Cricket Ground for Tony Greig, cricketer, England captain and TV
commentator par excellence and great supporter of Sri Lanka cricket who
passed away recently.
A distinguished gathering which included his wife Vivian and
children, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and former cricketing greats were
present to pay tribute to a legend.
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sunday
Australia innings
D. Warner lbw T. Perera 60
P. Hughes c Chandimal b Kulasekara 1
M. Clarke lbw Kulasekara 20
D. Hussey c Thirimanne b Malinga 1
G. Bailey c T. Perera b Herath 22
M. Wade c Kulasekara b T. Perera 31
M. Henriques lbw Herath 3
M. Johnson lbw Malinga 10
M. Starc not out 52
C. McKay b Kulasekara 2
X. Doherty not out 10
Extras (1b, 7lb, 2w) 10
Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 222
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Hughes), 2-50 (Clarke), 3-53 (Hussey), 4-93 (Bailey), 5-125 (Warner),
6-130 (Henriques), 7-145 (Johnson), 8-166 (Wade), 9-182 (McKay)
Bowling: Mathews 10-1-50-0, Kulasekara 10-2-30-3, Malinga 10-2-33-2, T. Perera 10-0-64-2, Herath 10-0-37-2
Sri Lanka innings
M. Jayawardene not out 4
T. Dilshan not out 9
Extras (1w) 1
Total (no wickets; 3.2 overs) 14
Bowling: McKay 2-0-13-0, Starc 1.2-0-1-0 |