Australia v Sri Lanka – 1st Test – Live Cricket Score and Match Update – Bowlers propel Australia to 137-run victory
A series of incisive bowling spells from Mitchell Starc and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PM-Siddle-c2197 took Australia to a comprehensive 137-run win in their first Test match against Sri Lanka, played at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, from December 14 to 18.
A series of strong performances with the bat, from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 to a substantial first innings total of 450, after which they decided to declare.
Sri Lanka were unable to muster up an effective response, and Peter Siddle (25.3-11-54-5) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913
(75) eventually going in vain.
During their second innings, Australia’s batsmen did not fare as well as they had during their first turn at bat, with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/UWMBCA-Welegedara-c2735 (22-3-89-3) applying a fair amount of pressure. However, half-tons from
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 (57, retired hurt) got the team up to 278 before they were all out, setting their visitors a daunting final target of 393 to chase.
Sri Lanka’s second innings did not get off to a promising start, with openers Dilshan (11) and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 to 65 for 2 by stumps on day
four.
The final day of play saw http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 (19) for a 65-run third-wicket partnership. However, Player of the Match Siddle (26-11-50-4) went
on the offensive, and sent both veterans back to the pavilion, leaving the tourists at 151 for 4.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TT-Samaraweera-c2712 (49) offered the team a brief moment of respite - he dug his heels in and joined Mathews (19) for a 50-run partnership for the 5th wicket. However, they had barely managed to get the team score up to 201 when Siddle struck again
– Mathews was caught out by Matthew Wade off Siddle, while Samaraweera was dismissed lbw.
The Lankans still appeared to have a chance of ending on a draw, but Starc took care of the remainder of the batting order, polishing off wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ranaweera-Mudiyanselage-Shaminda-Eranga-c83939 (6). By the end
of the day, Sri Lanka were bowled for 255, and Australia went on to claim an emphatic 137-run win.
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